Online Safety

The internet is now an integral part of children and young people’s lives; a multitude of devices provide access to a wide range of information, opportunities for instant communication and social networking. This can offer an opportunity for inclusivity, creativity and exploration of different roles and identities.

The internet can benefit children and young peoples’ education and social development, but it can also present several risks. It is important that children and young people are empowered to protect themselves from risks they may encounter and are able to safely manage their lives online as well as offline. Children, young people and families are often unaware that they are as much at risk online as they are in the real world, and may not be aware of the actions they can take to protect themselves. The educational and social benefits of the internet should be promoted, but that this should be balanced against the need to safeguard children.

HSCP eSafety Statement

The Hounslow Safeguarding Children’s Partnership has developed a statement setting out the aims and objectives of its response to eSafety. This statement also seeks to identify key principles under which work around eSafety should be undertaken and identifies key priority areas of work in order to improve our collective response to eSafety.

We recognise that an effective approach to online safety empowers children, young people and their families to stay safe online. It also empowers those who work with them to protect, educate and establish mechanisms to identify, intervene in and escalate any incident where appropriate.

This statement has been developed in conjunction with universal and early intervention services and multi-agency partners working with children, young people and their families within Hounslow.

This statement should not be viewed in isolation and should be considered alongside other key documents including early help policies and procedures:

Staff who work with children have a role in implementing this guidance by helping the children and young people they work with to keep themselves safe on-line and dealing with safeguarding issues arising from e-safety incidents.

This document is intended to be read and endorsed by:

All education institutions (maintained, independent, support, colleges, free schools, academies)
All venues where young people have access to technology (eg: youth centres, libraries)
All constituents of the Hounslow Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP)
Parents and community groups

Download the HSCP eSafety Statement 2017 – 2019 here