School Underpinning Online-Safety Knowledge and Behaviours Guidance

This guidance can be used by primary and secondary maintained schools and academies in England. The school can select an appropriate delivery method while ensuring that teaching remains age- and developmentally appropriate.

Purpose of the teaching

Teaching should develop pupils’ underpinning online-safety knowledge and behaviours so that they can navigate the online world safely and confidently, regardless of the device, platform or app.

Areas to address

The teaching should address evaluating online information, recognising persuasion and manipulation, acceptable behaviour, identifying risks, and seeking support.

Delivery methods

The teaching can be built into existing lessons across the curriculum, covered within specific online-safety lessons, or delivered through school-wide approaches.

Age and developmental appropriateness

Whichever delivery method is selected, teaching must always be age- and developmentally appropriate.