From parent apps to tablets in toddler rooms, digital tools are now part of early years life. That's great for learning and family communication; it also raises fresh safeguarding duties. Here's a clear, UK-specific action plan to help nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, wraparound care, and holiday clubs keep children safe online in 2025.

1) Update your policy for September 2025

Refresh your safeguarding and online safety policy so it maps to the EYFS statutory framework in force from 1 September 2025. Include image sharing, livestreaming, connected toys, AI image tools, staff devices, social media, and data protection. Cross-reference your procedures for reporting concerns to the DSL/LADO and your local safeguarding arrangements. Keep a version-controlled copy and share the policy with all staff and regular volunteers.

2) Train every adult-and make online safety explicit

Induction and refresher training should cover online risks (grooming, harmful content, scams, image-based abuse), recording and escalation, and roles around filtering and monitoring. Although Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 applies to schools and colleges, its online-safety expectations are a strong benchmark for early years providers-especially around staff responsibilities and regular updates.

3) Put age-appropriate filtering and monitoring in place

If children access the internet on site (even occasionally), implement "appropriate" filtering and monitoring, and document a risk assessment. Use whitelists, safe search, app-store restrictions, and clear supervision rules; test and review at least annually or whenever tech changes.

4) Treat children's data as high-risk by default

Photos, videos, learning journals, and app profiles are personal data. Obtain specific parental consent, turn off geolocation, minimise what you capture, and never require image consent to access provision. When choosing platforms (parent apps, cloud storage, connected toys), record due diligence against the ICO's Children's Code (Age-Appropriate Design Code)-look for high privacy by default, no unnecessary profiling, transparent use of data, and clear age assurance.

5) Set boundaries for staff technology use

Adopt a simple, visible code of conduct: no personal phones in learning spaces; never contact parents via private accounts; use setting-issued accounts for messaging and image capture; encrypted storage only; and clear rules for social media and professional boundaries. Reinforce through supervision and spot checks, and link breaches to your disciplinary policy.

6) Prepare for digital incidents before they happen

Create a one-page incident flowchart covering: immediate safeguarding actions; who to notify (DSL, police where appropriate, LADO for allegations against adults); preserving evidence (screenshots, logs); communication with parents; and when/how to report a personal data breach to the ICO. Practise scenarios such as accidental exposure to harmful content, unauthorised image sharing, phishing, or the circulation of manipulated images (e.g., AI deepfakes).

7) Work in partnership with parents and carers

Build parents' confidence with short, non-judgemental guidance at induction: device-free meal times, parental controls, privacy settings, talking to children about tricky content, and how to report concerns. Share reputable resources and run termly digital drop-ins or Q&A sessions. Use newsletters to remind families about seasonal risks (new devices at holidays, gaming chats, viral challenges).

8) Teach safe habits through play (birth to five)

For under-5s, online safety is about foundations: asking a trusted adult for help, keeping personal information private (names, addresses, uniforms), being kind, and knowing it's okay to "stop and tell." Embed these messages in stories, role-play, small-world, and picture cards rather than formal "lessons," and record them in your curriculum planning to evidence intent-implementation-impact.

9) Evidence governance and continuous improvement

Owners/trustees, or committee members, should receive a termly online safety report, which includes incidents and responses, training completed, results of filtering tests, platform audits against the Children's Code, and any parent engagement. Update your risk assessment at least annually and whenever technology, staffing, or provision changes. This aligns your practice with current definitions of "appropriate" protection and demonstrates leadership oversight.

Quick UK Checklist for 2025

• Policy mapped to EYFS (effective 1 Sept 2025)

• Staff induction/refresher training includes online safety & roles

• Documented filtering/monitoring risk assessment and annual review

• Platform due diligence against the ICO Children's Code

• Clear staff code of conduct for devices/images/social media

• Practised digital incident plan (incl. data breaches & image-based abuse)

• Parent partnership: controls, conversations, reporting routes

With smart policies, proportionate tech controls and warm, practical guidance for adults and families, you'll keep digital a positive part of early years-and meet UK expectations with confidence.