Welcome back to our weekly #WakeUpWednesday Online Safety post where each week you will find a guide on a topical Online Safety issue.
This week’s guide looks at what parents and carers need to know about The Online Safety Act.
After a lengthy gestation period, the UK Government’s wide-ranging changes to the legislation around digital safeguarding have become enshrined in law as the Online Safety Act. The first of its kind in Britain, the act aims to improve protection for children online and clamp down on illegal material. Regulated by Ofcom, it will primarily impact social media platforms and companies which host user-generated content.
The new legislation, however, also carries implications for schools and their staff. Although further developments are expected, this #WakeUpWednesday guide summarises the main points of the act that schools need to be aware of so far – outlining some specific areas that the new laws address and what effect, in practical terms, this will have on education providers.
Whilst this is targeted at schools, it is also important for parents to know this information. We will organise a parent workshop in the new year to look at this in more detail.
If you have any questions or concerns about Online Safety, please contact the school office.
