Empowering Early Years Educators with Online Safety Tools
In today’s digital-first world, children are exposed to online content from an increasingly young age. While this opens up exciting learning opportunities, it also introduces new risks—especially for those in early learning environments. As educators and childcare providers, fostering a safe online environment must become a key part of safeguarding practice.
Australia is leading the way in this space. The eSafety Commissioner, has developed a comprehensive Early Years Checklist.
A free, practical resource to help early learning services build safe online environments for children, educators, and families. It offers valuable guidance that UK early years providers can adopt and adapt.
Why Does This Matter?
Currently, there is no direct equivalent to the eSafety Commissioner in the UK focused specifically on early years online safety. While organisations such as the NSPCC and UK Safer Internet Centre provide general advice, there’s a gap in structured, sector-specific guidance tailored for early childhood settings.
This makes the Australian eSafety Checklist a valuable reference point. It aligns with key areas we’re already familiar with in the UK, including safeguarding frameworks, the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), and the need for strong parental engagement.
What’s in the Checklist?
The eSafety Checklist is structured around five essential areas:
- Policy – Do you have clear and accessible policies on digital technology use in your setting?
- Educational Programmes – Are children taught age-appropriate digital literacy and online safety?
- Technology & Infrastructure – Are devices secure, filtered, and used with supervision?
- Staff Training – Are educators confident in identifying online risks and modelling safe behaviour?
- Family Engagement – Are parents and carers included in your approach to online safety?
Each section includes reflective questions that encourage teams to assess current practices and identify areas for improvement.
Practical Support for Educators
In addition to the checklist, the Australian eSafety Commissioner offers a free professional learning module called Creating a Safe Online Environment. While designed for Australian settings, the advice is globally relevant—covering digital policies, risk management, and practical examples of safe technology use in early years.
Free posters, family agreements, and teaching resources are also available to help spark age-appropriate conversations about online safety.
Why UK Providers Should Take Note
At TASC Software, we understand that safeguarding is an ever-evolving responsibility. While the UK lacks a dedicated early years online safety body, proactive settings can still take the lead by using international best practices.
By using resources like this checklist and out CURA solution, early years providers can build a foundation for safer, more informed use of technology—and create a consistent message for staff, children, and families.
👉Download the checklist and explore the full suite of resources here:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/early-years-program/checklist
For more information on CURA please visit https://www.tascsoftware.co.uk/cura
