Pupils in Oldham are being taught about staying safe online

Pupils at Mayfield Primary School have been learning how to protect themselves online

Year 3 pupils at Mayfield Primary School have been looking at the do's and don'ts while online.

The lessons are fun but have a serious message and are part of a drive to teach kids on how to stay safe while surfing the web.

New reseach by the UK Safer Internet Centre reveals how sharing and viewing content is integral to the lives of young people, but children also need to navigate the complexities of asking for and giving permission before sharing information.

During the lessons at Mayfield Primary School pupils either watched a video or read a story about how to protect themselves online before doing an activity to share the message with others.

Kate Swithenbank, who was leading the lessons, said it's vital for youngsters to learn about protecting themselves on the web: “Now more than ever Online Safety is really important for us in protecting our children and families by giving them the tools to look after themselves; whilst reaping the incredible benefits of the internet. The discussions were fantastic and allowed children to be open about their online experiences.”

Will Gardener OBE, Director of the UK Safer Internet Centre said "It's vital that we - from an individual to an industry level - take responsibility to support young people to navigate consent online and put their positive attitudes into action.  We must move beyond advising them only on what they should do online, and work with them to understand how to do this in practice."

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