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Net safety lessons to be compulsory in primary schools

By Barry Collins

Posted on 8 Dec 2009 at 12:36

Primary schools will be required to deliver internet safety lessons to children from 2011.

The lessons are part of the Government's plans to teach children the "Green Cross Code" of internet safety.

Children as young as five will be taught how to use the internet safely, covering topics such as social-networking sites, reporting abuse and cyber-bullying.

Parents and children will also be targeted as part of a separate campaign that encourages youngsters to "Zip it, Block it, Flag it", in which they're taught not to disclose personal information online, block people who are bullying or harassing them, and report abuse to parents, teachers or the websites themselves.

The Prime Minister, who launched the campaign today, said he hoped the "Zip it, Block it, Flag it" phrase will become as familiar to today's children, as "stop, look and listen" was to past generations.

The measures are being implemented on the back of Dr Tanya Bryon's review of inappropriate content on the web.

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) is also spearheading a review of the child safety procedures on leading websites, which will report back with a new set of guidelines in 2010.

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User comments

This actually makes sense, although many parents will teach their kids this anyway.

By phantombudgie on 8 Dec 2009

Remarkable...

A Governemnt policy towards the internet which actually seems sensible.

Well, there's a first time for everything...

By davidbryant4 on 8 Dec 2009

Education instead of censorship?

Amazing! There's hope yet

"review of the child safety procedures on leading websites"
Oh, wait...

By greemble on 8 Dec 2009

"[...]although many parents will teach their kids this anyway"

Once the scheme is in place it may be the other way round in many cases. But yes, thumbs up all the way until they make a hash of it :>

By Josefov on 8 Dec 2009

"This actually makes sense, although many parents will teach their kids this anyway."

You'd be surprised at some of the things I've heard from the kids themselves then. Many parents still don't have clue as to some of the dangers or facilities their kids use, some barely know how to work their computers. And too many condone their kids being on facebook et al even when they are under 13 which is a breach of the site's policies.

By mviracca on 8 Dec 2009

Great but what about the parents?

I think that general web safety is a good idea. I think the first two are naturally good moves. However I think the third stage needs fleshed out more - after your child tells you about someone online what do /they/ do?

I think if when it's simplified for young children into "everyone on MySpace is a murdering paedophile so tell your parents to call the police" then that's less good as a policy.

By steviesteveo on 8 Dec 2009

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