School Computing Online-Safety Progression Plan

This plan applies where [school name] is a maintained or academy primary or secondary school in England delivering the national computing curriculum. It is intended to support online-safety teaching at all relevant key stages.

Plan aims

The computing curriculum will teach the principles of online safety at each relevant key stage. The sequence will reflect the different and escalating risks that pupils face as their online activity and independence develop.

Across the progression, pupils will learn how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely. They will also learn where to obtain help and support when they have concerns about online content or contact.

Progression principles

At every relevant key stage, teaching will develop the underpinning knowledge and behaviours pupils need to navigate online environments safely and confidently, regardless of the device, platform or app involved.

Teaching will be age- and developmentally appropriate. It may be built into existing lessons, delivered through specific online-safety lessons, or supported through a school-wide approach.

Progression sequence

Foundation of safe and responsible use

At the earliest relevant stage, teaching will establish safe, responsible, respectful and secure use of technology. Pupils will begin to recognise that online activity can involve risks and that concerns about content or contact should be shared through the school's agreed route to help and support.

Developing knowledge and behaviours

As pupils progress, teaching will develop their ability to identify risks, evaluate online information, recognise persuasion and manipulation, behave acceptably online and seek support when needed.

Responding to escalating risks

At later relevant stages, the sequence will address the different and escalating risks pupils face. Activities and explanations will remain age- and developmentally appropriate and will continue to reinforce safe, responsible, respectful and secure technology use.

Independent use and support

By the end of the progression, pupils should be supported to navigate online environments safely and confidently across different devices, platforms and apps, recognise when they need help, and use [school online safety help route] when they have concerns about online content or contact.

Curriculum planning requirements

For each relevant key stage, the computing curriculum plan will identify the online-safety content to be taught, how that content progresses from earlier learning, and how the selected knowledge and behaviours are appropriate to pupils' age and development.

The planning sequence will include safe, responsible, respectful and secure technology use; recognising and evaluating online risks and information; recognising persuasion and manipulation; acceptable online behaviour; and routes to help and support.

The delivery approach for [school name] will be recorded as [online safety delivery method] and will be reflected in the relevant curriculum plans and schemes of work.

Routes to help and support

Every stage of the progression will tell pupils where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies. The current school route is [school online safety help route].