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Campaign resources for schools, early years settings and education organisations

Schools already teach children about online safety as part of the curriculum. This campaign extends that work into the home by giving parents and carers simple, practical tools to have regular conversations about online privacy with their children.

Three-quarters of parents don’t think their children can make safe choices about what personal information they share online, yet one in five have never talked to them about it. Schools and early years settings are uniquely placed to bridge that gap as parents trust you, and you already have the communication channels to reach families.

Resources

School newsletter text

Are you switched on to your child’s online privacy?

At [SCHOOL NAME], we teach children about staying safe online as part of our curriculum. But online safety doesn’t stop at the school gate. If you’re a parent or carer of a child aged 4-11, there’s a new campaign that could make a real difference to their safety online.

Every time children use apps, games or websites, information is collected about them - often without them realising. This can include their location, habits and even their mood.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a free campaign called Switched on to privacy to help parents and carers of children aged 4–11 start these conversations. It’s built around three simple steps:

  • Chat with your child about online privacy.
  • Choose actively what personal information to share.
  • Check the settings whenever your child uses a new device or app.

Just like we teach children to cross the road safely, we can help them build smart habits online. Small conversations now can make a big difference as your child grows up.

Find free tips, videos and conversation starters at ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sotp.

WhatsApp, message or parent email text

Short version (~45 words)

Hi all, [SCHOOL NAME] is sharing this from the ICO. Did you know your child could be sharing personal info online without realising? Their Switched on to privacy campaign has 3 easy steps to help: Chat, Choose, Check.

Free tips for parents: ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sotp

Medium version (~100 words)

Hi everyone, [SCHOOL NAME] wanted to share this with all parents and carers.

Every time our children go online, they may be sharing personal information without knowing it - things like their location, habits and even their mood. The children are learning about online safety at school, but it really helps when we talk about it at home too.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has a free campaign called Switched on to privacy for parents of children aged 4–11. It gives you three simple steps:

✅ Chat with your child about online privacy.
✅ Choose actively what personal information to share.
✅ Check the settings whenever your child uses a new device or app.

You don’t need to be a tech expert. Find tips and videos at: ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sotp

Please share with other parents and carers!

Staff intranet text

Switched on to privacy: how we can help families talk about online privacy

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a national campaign called Switched on to privacy, aimed at helping parents and carers of children aged 4-11 talk about online privacy at home.

We know that online safety education is already embedded in our curriculum. This campaign builds on that work by giving families simple, practical tools to continue those conversations outside school. Research from the ICO shows that three-quarters of parents don’t think their children can make safe choices about what personal information they share online, yet one in five have never spoken to them about it. As educators, we’re in a strong position to help bridge that gap.

The campaign centres on three steps parents can take at home:

  • Chat with your child about online privacy.
  • Choose actively what personal information to share.
  • Check the settings whenever your child uses a new device or app.

How you can help:

  • Share the campaign with parents via newsletters, email, noticeboards or at parents’ evenings.
  • Mention it during conversations with parents at pick-up, drop-off or parent consultations.
  • Use it to complement your own online safety teaching - encouraging children to talk to their families too.

Consider it as a useful reference for safeguarding updates or staff meetings.

The campaign hub is at ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=internal&utm_campaign=sotp - it includes free tips, short videos and downloadable conversation checklist that parents can use straight away.

School website text blocks

Switched on to privacy

At [SCHOOL NAME], we teach children about staying safe online. But online privacy is a life skill that needs to be practised at home too.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched Switched on to Privacy - a campaign to help parents and carers of children aged 4-11 start simple conversations about online privacy using three steps: Chat, Choose, Check.

Visit ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=Website&utm_campaign=sotp for free tips, short videos and conversation checklist you can use straight away.

Briefing script for teachers and frontline staff

Helping parents get switched on to their child’s online privacy

What is this about?

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a campaign called Switched on to privacy. It helps parents and carers of children aged 4-11 start simple, regular conversations about online privacy at home, building on what we already teach in school.

Why does it matter?

Every time children go online - using apps, games or websites - data is collected about them, often without them knowing. This can include their location, browsing habits, friendships and even their mood. Research from the ICO shows that three-quarters of parents don’t think their children can make safe choices about what personal information they share online, yet one in five have never spoken to them about it.

What can parents do?

The campaign gives parents three simple steps:

  • Chat with your child about online privacy.
  • Choose actively what personal information to share.
  • Check the settings whenever your child uses a new device or app.

What can I say to parents?

Here are two suggested ways to raise this naturally:

  • At parents’ evening or a parent consultation: “You might find this useful - the ICO has a campaign called Switched on to privacy with some really simple tips for talking to children about online privacy at home. It ties in nicely with what we’re doing in school. You can find it at ico.org.uk/SwitchedOn.”
  • At pick-up, drop-off or in a quick chat: “Have you seen the Switched on to privacy campaign? It’s got some handy tips for chatting to the kids about what they share online. It’s at ico.org.uk/SwitchedOn — worth a look.”

Key point: The tone should always be supportive and encouraging. This is about empowering families to build smart online habits together, not about telling parents they’re doing something wrong.

Social media text

Short version (214 characters)

Did you know your child could be sharing personal info online without realising? The ICO’s Switched on to privacy campaign helps parents of 4–11‑year‑olds start simple conversations at home.

👉 ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sotp

Long version (459 characters)

At school, children learn how to stay safe online. But online privacy is a life skill that you can also talk about it at home.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched Switched on to privacy - a free campaign to help parents and carers of 4–11‑year‑olds talk about what personal information children share online.

It’s built around three simple steps: Chat, Choose, Check.

Find tips, short videos and conversation starters at 👉  ico.org.uk/switched-on-to-privacy/?utm_source=toolkit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sotp

Digital and social media images pack

You can download images and videos and then upload them to your social media channels. Please include alt text with images to support accessibility.

Make sure to tag us on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X.

Download the digital and social media images zip file - English version

Download the digital and social media images zip file - Welsh version