What is an Online Safety Policy?

What is an Online Safety Policy?

An Online Safety Policy is crucial for any organisation, especially those working with children, to outline their commitment to protecting individuals in the digital environment. This policy typically covers:

1. Scope and Applicability: It applies to all forms of digital communication and internet access, ensuring safe and responsible usage among members of the organization or institution, such as a school.
2. Commitment to Safeguarding: The policy sets out the organization’s commitment to keeping users, particularly children, safe online. This includes protecting them from harmful content, cyberbullying, and other online risks.
3. Guidelines and Procedures: The policy provides rigorous guidelines and procedures for online behaviour. This may include acceptable use agreement rules regarding social media and other digital platforms.
4. Training and Awareness: It often encompasses a framework for training and educating staff and users about online safety. It may include self-audit tools for staff to assess their training needs.
5. Policy Updates and Compliance: An effective Online Safety Policy is regularly reviewed and updated to align with the latest online safety standards and technological advancements.

Please let us know if you want a copy of the template to help create your policy.