Youngsters want more internet protection, says new report

27 Oct 2008

Children living away from home, or using social care services, want to feel safer online, be protected from unsuitable sites and have adult supervision, highlights a new report.

The report, ‘Future care: Children’s advice on future care standards’, follows consultation with 686 children and young people - aged between four and 20 - who attended the 2008 national children’s conference. These youngsters discussed the key issues that they would like to see considered for future inclusion in the National Minimum Standards.

The National Minimum Standards are not enforceable by law but are important guidelines to help providers, inspectors, and people who use services to judge the standard of service. They are designed to make sure everyone understands what’s expected and so services can be measured against the same standards.

Two of the most significant findings to come from the children surveyed are that the new Standards should be written for everyone to use – not just individuals running and setting up services or those inspecting them. Second, children want a full set of rules for how they are looked after, and do not want any of the rules left out.

Children rated having their own privacy, being kept safe and healthy, and staying in touch with their families as the most important of the possible 40 rules that the majority of children (95%) would like to see included in the new Standards. They were particularly keen that the Standards address specific concerns about internet safety.

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Youngsters want more internet protection, says new report

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