Online Safety is a risk for all children and young people using the Internet. but the risk can be more profound for young people with a learning disability as a result of increased vulnerability, tendencies towards obsessive compulsive behaviour and social naivety.

One example of this is that pupils with Special Educational Needs (have a learning difficulty or disability) are 16% more likely to be persistently cyber bullied over a prolonged period of time.

TTherefore its important to consider effective ways that the internet can support SEN students and I have listed some safety tips to help achieve this.

• Keep computers in family rooms Most Internet safety guidance suggests that one of the most effective ways of ensuring that the content your child views is appropriate is to place the computer in a family room with the screen facing into the room.
• Install Internet filters Internet filters are software which are designed to control what content a user can see. It is used to restrict material delivered over the web.
• Protect against viruses Computer viruses are a small piece of software that can damage your computer.
• Anti-virus software should be installed.
• Install parental guidance locks on popular sites Most browsers and video playback sites have the capacity to lock adult content and prevent it from being viewed through the use of a pin code.
• Prevent postural problems Set up your computer area in a way that encourages your child to sit in a beneficial position, and demonstrate how you expect them to sit.