Prioritising Child Safety in the Digital World: Why Stronger Online Safeguards Matter
As an organisation committed to fostering meaningful learning opportunities rooted in principles of safety, inclusion, and educational integrity, we’re pleased to see Ofcom’s publication of the Children’s Safety Codes — a necessary step in the effort to safeguard children online. While there is progress, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. The evolving risks children face online require comprehensive and enforceable regulations to protect them from online harms, effectively.
At Equal Education, we believe the digital space should be a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment — one that nurtures learning, curiosity, and meaningful connection. We understand the profound influence online environments have on young people’s mental well-being and academic development. That’s why we champion responsible digital design and advocate for education that places the safety and needs of every learner at its core.
As part of our ongoing commitment towards supporting young people and addressing educational inequality, we actively work to bridge the digital divide and provide our learners with technology resources, such as managed iPads to enable remote learning opportunities. We carefully curate the best possible digital experience for our learners with a strong emphasis on online safety to ensure they can learn confidently and securely. Making platforms safer by design, ensures that children are not inadvertently exposed to harmful content through personalised unsupervised recommendations.
“The finalisation of Ofcom’s Children’s Safety Codes is a vital step in making the digital world safer for our youngest learners. It reflects the seriousness with which we must treat the safety of children online. At Equal Education, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to already be compliant with these new expectations, because we have always placed safety first.
Several years ago, we introduced a managed iPad programme to support remote learning, but quickly realised that giving children unfettered access to the internet could be akin to handing them Pandora’s box. That experience shaped our commitment to responsible digital design and guided, secure learning environments.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for children to become digitally native, and we believe the ability to navigate online spaces safely is now fundamental to learning. As we look ahead to becoming a registered digital provision, we are excited by the potential of online education to transform access and opportunity for all learners—especially those facing the greatest barriers. It must, however, be rooted in safety, inclusion, and educational integrity.”
— Paul Singh, CEO of Equal Education
Equal Education remains deeply committed to partnering with schools, local authorities, and like-minded organisations to drive meaningful and lasting educational outcomes for young people, including those who are under-resourced or face additional barriers to learning. Together, we can create more inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Learn more about our work and managed device leasing at www.equal.education.co.uk.