Almost 4 in 5 adults want child safety checks on new generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) products, according to a recent poll. The NSPCC says that polling reveals that 78% of the UK public would opt for child safety checks on the new technology, which uses AI to generate new content, including images and...
Child safeguarding review highlights critical role of schools
A major review into child safeguarding practices has highlighted the critical role that schools play in protecting children from harm. The report, entitled I Wanted Them All to Notice, was published by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel last month. It focuses on protecting children and responding to child sexual abuse within the family...
Low-income families struggle to access early childhood services
The NSPCC has warned that families on low incomes in the UK are missing out on vital support as they struggle to access early childhood services. In a new report with the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), the national children’s charity reveals that families living in poverty experience barriers to accessing early childhood...
Rise in concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse
The NSPCC has revealed that concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse have risen by a fifth. The national children’s charity saw a surge in people contacting its Helpline with concerns about children experiencing domestic abuse, fielding almost 4,000 concerns of this nature between April and September 2024. This represents a 19% increase in concerns...
NSPCC shares parent and child views on smartphones
The NSPCC has asked parents and young people how they feel about the impact of smartphones and social media on child safety and wellbeing. Young people told the NSPCC that they feel trying to keep them away from smartphones and social media was unrealistic in an online world, and that having a phone to...
World Children’s Day: building a better world for children
World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote children’s rights and shine a spotlight on child welfare across the globe. The international awareness day was first established by the United Nations (UN) in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day. It is now celebrated on 20th November each year as that is...
Online grooming crimes reach ‘record levels’ in the UK
Online grooming crimes against children have reached record levels across the UK, with the number of offences surpassing 7,000 for the first time, according to new data released by the NSPCC. The national children’s charity is calling for more “ambitious regulation” to make online platforms safer for children and young people. Data compiled by...
Young people urged to ‘choose respect’ this Anti-Bullying Week
This week (11th-15th November) is Anti-Bullying Week 2024 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with Odd Socks Day held on Tuesday and World Kindness Day marked on Wednesday. Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), Anti-Bullying Week aims to highlight the issue of bullying and the theme for 2024 is: ‘Choose Respect.’ The ABA consulted...
Youth group to advise on child safety online
A new group of young people has been set up to advise politicians, regulators, parents and professionals about child safety online. The Voice of Online Youth group consists of 15 young people aged 13-16 from across the UK. They were selected based on their passion for helping children to remain safe online. The group...
School pupils die in infection outbreak
Two pupils from a Merseyside Primary School have tragically died after an infection outbreak closed the school. The pupils, aged just 5 and 6, attended Millstead Primary School in Everton, Merseyside, which was tackling an outbreak of an infectious stomach bug. The infection outbreak related to Giardiasis, an infection of the digestive system caused...
Sugar tax halves children’s sugar consumption
A recent study found that the amount of sugar consumed by UK children from soft drinks halved within a year of the sugar tax being introduced. Experts argue that the tax has been so successful in reducing children’s daily sugar intake that an expansion to cover other sugary food and drink products is a...
Drive to recruit thousands more teachers
The new Education Secretary has announced a scheme to recruit thousands more teachers. In a letter to staff working at all levels of education, Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, outlined an intention to “reset the relationship” with the sector and put education “at the heart of change and the forefront of...
Child Safety Week 2024: Get safety sorted
Child Safety Week 2024 runs from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th June in the UK. Spearheaded by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the annual community education campaign is focusing on the theme of ‘Safety. Sorted!’ this year. The national charity, which works to prevent death and serious injury to children from avoidable accidents, says...
Schools urged to warn pupils over sextortion
Schools have been urged to warn their pupils about the dangers of sextortion after a surge in cases worldwide. The National Crime Agency (NCA) sent an “unprecedented warning” to thousands of teachers on Monday (29th April) providing guidance about how to support young people and explaining that all age groups and genders are being...
Online Safety Bill marks ‘new era for children’s safety’
The landmark Online Safety Bill has finally been passed and will soon be made law, marking what the NSPCC describes as “a new era for children’s safety.” The ground-breaking and “essential” piece of legislation was recently passed following years of campaigning by parents, survivors, MPs and charities and is set to transform the online...