Please note: The policy templates have been updated in September 2023. Some templates have received significant updates. Please see details below
Online Safety (E-Safety) Policy for
Schools - updated September 2023
Our School Online Safety Policy Templates have been adopted by local authorities, schools and academies across the UK, and are acknowledged as good practice documents.
The SWGfL school Online Safety policy templates help schools to address a wide range of online safety policy issues without having to start with a blank page.
The templates include guidance, key elements to include, and also the flexibility to adapt, allowing a school to create an online safety policy that is relevant to their school.
Updates - September 2023 - the main policy template document has been updated in response to the new guidance in the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education and the updated DfE Technical Standards for Schools and Colleges as follows:
- The responsibilities sections reflect the new guidance on the enhanced online safety role of the DSL and Governors
- The technical security sections have been significantly updated to reflect the new DfE guidance on filtering and monitoring
- The mobile technologies section has been re-written.
The appendices have been also been updated, with significant updates to the Technical Security Policy Template and the Mobile Technologies Policy Template. In addition there is a new policy template for Computer Misuse and Cyber Choices.
Schools are recommended to review the new templates and update their own policies as relevant.
Schools using the 360safe online safety self review tool should note that the equivalent aspects in the tool have also been updated.
Developed by our Online Safety Experts
Acknowledged as best practice by the local authorities, schools and academies that have adopted them
Flexible Approach
Our templates provide guidance, an indication of what should be included and a flexible approach allowing each school or organisation to challenge, consider and debate
Covers all areas of Online Safety
Includes an overall Online Safety Policy and a series of appendices with more detailed template policies and forms
Online Safety Policy Templates Downloads
The latest versions have been updated in September 2023 following review and support by Online Safety professionals. The templates take account of updated statutory guidance e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 and DfE Technical Standards for Schools and Colleges. There are significant changes to the Responsibilities, Technical Security and Mobile Technologies sections of the policy templates. They provide guidance, an indication of what should be included and a flexible approach allowing each school or organisation to challenge, consider and debate. The result will be your very own Online Safety Policy that whilst built on foundation blocks, includes content that makes it unique and relevant for your school.
The SWGfL Template Policies consist of an overall Online Safety Policy and a series of appendices with more detailed template policies and forms. They are available with or without the appendices attached and are in MS Word and pdf formats. They can also be found embedded in the links and resources section of the 360 degree safe online safety self-review tool.
