Written question WQ90689
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What action is the Minister taking to ensure people working in education settings are able to ensure the safety of children online?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
It is vital we educate our children and young people on the benefits and risks presented online and equip them with the skills to be able to think critically and navigate the digital world safely.
Our national Digital Resilience in Education Action Plan sets out our cross-governmental commitment to enhance the safety of children and young people online and the activities we are undertaking to achieve this. We engage with industry experts to ensure our action plan evolves to reflect the changing nature of opportunities and risks posed by emerging digital technologies.
The Digital Resilience in Education Symposium which we held in late 2023, as well as the two national Keeping Safe Online conferences directly inform the ongoing programme of work to enhance online safety for learners. The programme is also steered by the Keeping Safe Online Youth Group which we established to provide a forum to hear directly from young people in Wales about their experiences online.
Through the dedicated Keeping safe online area on Hwb, we provide advice, guidance and teaching resources on a breadth of online issues to support schools in Wales. The Keeping safe online area also provides advice and support for both learners and families to support them in navigating the online world.
Next week we mark Safer Internet Day (SID) by offering an informative programme of events for schools, encouraging their participation in a global conversation on online safety. Webinars with trusted partners including Estyn, North Wales Police, Childnet, SWGfL and Adobe will be held throughout the week alongside a Keeping Safe Online Youth Group event hosted by the WRU at the Principality Stadium. In partnership with the UK Safer Internet Centre, we have published bilingual SID education packs for primary and secondary schools across Wales.
In light of the ever-evolving risks posed by new technology and digital trends, we are committed to taking a comprehensive, proactive and multi-agency approach to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in Wales.