Commenting on Safer Internet Day (Tues 8 Feb), Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The internet is a powerful tool for connecting to each other and for learning and, given the impact of the pandemic, we are very grateful to have it. Life over the past two years would have been very different without it. But we do still need to be mindful of the risks – especially as children are spending more time than ever on screens and internet-enabled devices.

“This Safer Internet Day, we welcome the celebration of the role children and young people can take in creating a safer internet. They want to enjoy gaming and interacting with their friends online. But with the lack of respect individuals can display towards each other, those experiences can be challenging or harmful. It is vital that children and young people understand what respectful behaviour online looks like and that they know what to do if they encounter hate or bullying directed at them or someone else.

“Schools and parents obviously have their role to play in this too. And the government must also do more to establish a national strategy, education programme and effective legislation in order to safeguard young people online.”