Parent Guide to Digital Wellbeing
Supporting children to grow safely, confidently, and healthily in a digital world.
Technology can enrich learning, creativity, and communication. However, children require guidance, boundaries, and supervision to develop safe and balanced digital habits. This guide helps families support children’s wellbeing both online and offline.
What is Digital Wellbeing?
- Using technology in balanced and healthy ways
- Feeling safe and confident online
- Developing positive habits around screen time
- Understanding how digital choices affect emotions, sleep, and learning
Why It Matters
Children’s brains are still developing. Excessive or unsupervised screen use may affect concentration, sleep, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. With support, children can learn to use technology responsibly and safely.
How Parents Can Help
Set Clear Boundaries
- Agree daily limits for screen use
- Avoid screens before bedtime
- Keep devices out of bedrooms for younger children
Choose Quality Content
- Prioritise educational and creative activities
- Avoid apps designed for endless scrolling
- Encourage thinking, creating, and learning
Stay Involved
- Talk regularly about what your child is doing online
- Ask open questions about their experiences
- Encourage them to report anything uncomfortable
Teach Respect
- Kindness applies online and offline
- Unkind behaviour and bullying are unacceptable
- Personal information should be protected
Model Healthy Habits
- Limit your own device use during family time
- Show balanced digital behaviour
When to Seek Support
Please contact the school if your child shows anxiety, withdrawal, sleep difficulties, or strong emotional reactions linked to device use. Early support is always encouraged.
Digital wellbeing is most effective when school and families work together.
School Policy on Social Media and Digital Tool Use
Purpose
This policy ensures that technology is used safely, responsibly, and in ways that support children’s learning, safeguarding, and development.
Guiding Principles
- Safeguarding and child protection are paramount
- Technology must have clear educational value
- All use must be age-appropriate and supervised
- Digital behaviour must reflect respect and responsibility
Use of Digital Tools in School
- Devices are used only for learning purposes
- Activities are supervised by staff
- Content is age-appropriate and filtered
- Screen time is balanced with practical and outdoor learning
Social Media
Pupils
- Social media is not used during school hours
- Children are not required to hold social media accounts
- The school does not promote underage social media use
Staff
- Professional boundaries must be maintained at all times
- Staff must not connect with pupils via personal accounts
- School communication occurs only through approved channels
Online Safety Expectations
- Respectful language and behaviour
- No bullying, harmful, or violent content
- Protection of personal information
- Immediate reporting of concerns
Safeguarding and Data Protection
The school protects pupil data, seeks appropriate parental consent, and uses secure systems in line with safeguarding best practice.
Reporting Concerns
Any digital safety concerns should be reported promptly to school leadership. All matters are addressed in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
Review
This policy is reviewed regularly to reflect safeguarding guidance and emerging technologies.
Digital Wellbeing Family Pledge
As a family, we commit to supporting healthy, safe, and balanced technology use.
- We will set clear and consistent screen time boundaries.
- We will prioritise learning, creativity, and meaningful activities online.
- We will talk openly about online experiences and concerns.
- We will treat others with kindness and respect, both online and offline.
- We will protect personal information and privacy.
- We will model healthy digital habits as adults.
- We will work in partnership with the school to keep children safe.
Child’s Name: ___________________________
Parent/Carer Name: ___________________________
Signature: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________