Last month, schools across the country marked Safer Internet Day, the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety.
The theme this year was ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘.
Many tuned into a BBC Teach Live Lesson where pupils became players in a virtual game, Scam Smashers, and were challenged with outsmarting digital tricksters to protect their personal information.
When we think of online scams, our thoughts often turn to older family members. And yet, a Censuswide survey of primary teachers commissioned by BBC Teach suggested that primary-aged children were being impacted by online scams.
It indicated that 35% of primary teachers felt that the number of children being scammed each year was increasing, and a third said at least one child in their class had reported being a victim of an online scam.
I know from my work with primary schools across east London that teaching staff are aware of the issues and are developing ways to weave information about avoiding online scams, and online safety more generally, into the curriculum.
Recent research from the UK Safer Internet Centre suggests that almost three-quarters of young people say they would turn to a parent or carer if they were worried about an online scam. I believe that families are an important part of the online safety jigsaw. By including parents or carers, the conversation about online safety can be continued after the school day has ended. I’m aware that schools already work hard to engage parents and carers, and through my own work, I’ve seen some excellent practice.
Here are a few practical ideas you may wish to try:
• The parent section of the school website is a great starting place for schools to provideup-to-date information about their policies and approaches to online safety. Don’t forget to add useful links to organisations such as BBC Teach and the UK Safer Internet Centre who have collections of online safety resources.
• Providing workshops for parents and carers is a great way to develop their confidence in spotting and avoiding scams. Consider a mix of in-person and online meetings.
• The school newsletter, or news section of the website, is a good place to share the outcomes of recent online safety lessons.
• It is helpful for parents and carers if the school sends home information about high profile scams when they arise either locally or nationally. This will support them to have useful discussions with their children. Remember to add in practical advice such as changing passwords and even how to create a strong password.
• Inviting parents and carers into school for shared online safety activities with their children can foster better understanding and develop stronger home-school relationships.
• There are many information leaflets, brochures and posters available from organisations such as Childnet and the NSPCC. Place them in shared spaces such as the playgroundand school entrance for parents to pick up.
• Encourage pupils to share the BBC Teach Live Lesson with their families as it is a great source of information and advice. Family members might even pick up some new online safety tips themselves!
Finally, remember to involve parents and families in your annual calendar of activities forSafer Internet Day next year.
Marion Reilly is a former teacher and online safety specialist. To watch the BBC Teach Safer Internet Day 2025 Live Lesson or to access its collection of online safety resources, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/teach
