Safer Internet Day – 7th February 2023

The internet has become an integral part of daily life for children and young people and provides both positive opportunities and an open door to a range of damaging content and experiences. For learners with SEND, the use of the internet may be a life line, opening doors to communication with peers that had not once been possible. However, young people with SEND are more likely to experience online issues such as cyberbullying, grooming, and exploitation. As safeguarding in this area is a real challenge it is one that needs to be referenced, and not just for one day a year.

The safer internet day serves as a focal to remind pupils about the dangers the internet can pose and to reinforce those messages of how to stay safe online. Below are some resources specifically for learners with SEND to help you to do this.

• The NSPCC has worked with Ambitious about Autism and produced a set of activities for parents to use to discuss online safety at home
• Internet matters have a whole range of resources aimed at supporting young people with SEND
• An online safety leaflet from Kent County Council considering all of the areas staff may want to consider when talking about online safety with a set of links to further resources 
• A short online film ‘Know your friends with Josh and Sue’ targeted at young people in KS3 with learning disabilities to be introduced to the consequences of online actions 
• A set of resources to share with parents from Childnet