Online Safety: A Guide for Parents and Carers

Helping to keep your child safe on social media, gaming platforms and connected devices

Children and young people use technology to communicate, learn, socialise and play. These experiences can be extremely positive, but social media, messaging apps and online games can also expose young people to inappropriate content, unwanted contact, bullying, scams and other forms of online harm. NSPCC advises that online abuse can take place through social media, messaging, online chats, gaming and other internet-connected services.

At Stratton School, we encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child's online life and establish strong privacy and safety settings on every device, game and platform they use.

🔒 1. Make accounts as secure and private as possible

Parents and carers should regularly sit down with their child and review the settings on their accounts.

Where the platform allows it:

• Set accounts and profiles to private.
• Restrict who can send messages or make contact.
• Limit friend and follower requests to people your child genuinely knows.
• Review who can view posts, photos, videos and other content.
• Use available parental controls or supervision tools.
• Turn off unnecessary location sharing.
• Restrict purchases and spending.
• Use appropriate content filters.
• Review screen-time controls.
• Check the date of birth registered to the account is correct.
• Review these settings regularly, particularly following an app or device update.

Government online-safety guidance also recommends checking that parental controls are switched on and set at the appropriate level. Controls can be used to manage screen time, filter inappropriate content and restrict purchases. Importantly, parental controls are not a complete solution and should be accompanied by regular conversations about online safety.

Useful guide: Government Kids Online Safety: Parental Controls

🎮 2. Don't forget gaming platforms

Online safety isn't just about social media.

Games and gaming platforms can include voice chat, messaging and interaction with people your child does not know. Government guidance identifies potential risks including unwanted contact, bullying, inappropriate content, scams and in-game purchases.

Parents should:

• Check the PEGI age rating before allowing a child to play a game.
• Find out whether the game allows communication with strangers.
• Review voice and text-chat settings.
• Use available parental controls.
• Restrict or control in-game purchases.
• Encourage children to block, mute and report abusive players.
• Make sure usernames do not reveal identifying information.
• Discuss who they are actually playing and communicating with.

Childline also advises young people not to reveal information such as their full name, school, date of birth, address, town or telephone number through their gaming profile.

A useful approach comes from Ofcom's Check, Chat, Change campaign:

CHECK the age and settings on your child's account.
CHAT about the games they play and who they play with.
CHANGE settings where necessary to make their experience safer.

📱 3. Know which apps your child is actually using

Have regular conversations about:

• which apps, games and websites they use;
• who they communicate with;
• who follows them;
• whether they participate in group chats;
• what information they share;
• whether anyone has ever made them uncomfortable online;
• how they would block or report another user;
• who they would speak to if something went wrong.

The UK Safer Internet Centre recommends ongoing conversations with children about the services they use, what they enjoy online, what is appropriate to share and where they can find safety, privacy, blocking and reporting functions.

Useful guide: UK Safer Internet Centre: Parents and Carers

🚫 4. Personal information should stay personal

Encourage your child to think carefully before sharing:

• their full name;
• home address;
• telephone number;
• school or college;
• email address;
• current location;
• photographs that identify where they live or go to school;
• passwords or account information.

Remind children that people online may not always be who they say they are. Internet Matters recommends discussing safe sharing and explaining that personal information such as location, school and family information should be protected.

⚠️ 5. Recognise when something isn't right

Take concerns seriously if your child tells you that:

• someone is threatening or bullying them;
• an unknown person is repeatedly contacting them;
• someone is asking them to keep online conversations secret;
• someone is asking for personal information;
• money, gifts or gaming items are being offered unexpectedly;
• they are being pressured into doing something they do not want to do;
• photographs or information about them have been shared without permission.

Online harm can move between platforms, and children can be at risk from people they know as well as people they have only encountered online.

🆘 Something has happened. What should I do?

Stay calm and listen

Your child's first concern may be that they are going to lose their phone or internet access. Reassure them that asking for help was the right thing to do.

Government guidance recommends staying calm, asking questions to understand what has happened, avoiding blaming the child and reassuring them that you will address the problem together.

Preserve appropriate evidence

For bullying or harassment, Childline recommends retaining evidence such as screenshots, reporting the activity through the relevant platform, blocking the person responsible and telling a trusted adult.

Report and block

Use the application's own Report and Block functions. Many games also have built-in reporting systems.

Tell the school

If an online incident involves Stratton School pupils, is affecting your child's wellbeing or safety, or is spilling over into school, please contact the school so that we can consider what support or safeguarding action may be appropriate.

🚨 Serious safeguarding concerns

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

For concerns about online child exploitation, grooming or sexual abuse, a report can be made to CEOP, part of the National Crime Agency.

Report a concern: CEOP Safety Centre

Parents and professionals can also contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000.

Children and young people can contact Childline free on 0800 1111 or seek support online.

🔗 Recommended online safety resources for families

UK Safer Internet Centre: Parents and Carers

Advice and guides covering phones, laptops, games consoles, tablets, smart TVs, social media and conversations about online safety.

Internet Matters: Social Media Safety Guides

Platform-specific information to help parents understand social-media safety features, privacy and parental controls.

NSPCC: Reporting Online Safety Concerns

Advice for parents about responding to concerning online experiences and where different types of concerns can be reported.

Childline: Online Safety

Advice written directly for children and young people about online safety, privacy, gaming, bullying and getting help.

CEOP Safety Centre

For reporting concerns about online child sexual abuse, exploitation or grooming.

✅ The five-minute family safety check

We encourage every Stratton family to regularly complete these five checks together:

1. PRIVATE – Are social-media profiles private?
2. CONTACT – Who can message, follow or communicate with your child?
3. LOCATION – Is unnecessary location sharing switched off?
4. CONTENT – Are appropriate parental controls and filters enabled?
5. TALK – Does your child know they can tell you, or another trusted adult, if anything online worries them?

Most importantly, make sure your child knows that they will not be blamed for asking for help. Keeping communication open alongside appropriate technical safeguards gives children the confidence to speak up when something goes wrong.