Computing · Year 1 · Safety and Digital Citizenship · Summer Term

Asking for Help Online

Students identify trusted adults and learn when and how to seek help if something online feels strange, upsetting, or unsafe.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Computing - Online Safety
• KS1: Computing - Digital Citizenship

About This Topic

Asking for Help is perhaps the most important safety skill for young children online. In the UK National Curriculum, students are taught to 'identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet'. For Year 1, this means identifying 'Trusted Adults' at home and at school. They learn that if something makes them feel 'wobbly', 'sad', or 'scared' on a screen, the best thing to do is tell a grown-up immediately.

This topic aims to remove the shame or fear associated with seeing something inappropriate. It helps children to take action rather than hiding the problem. Students grasp this concept faster through role play and structured discussion, where they can practice the exact words to use when asking for help.

Key Questions

1. What should you do if you see something on screen that makes you feel upset or scared?
2. Who are the grown-ups you trust at school and at home?
3. Why is it important to tell a grown-up straight away if something worries you online?

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least three trusted adults at school and three at home who can provide help.
• Explain in their own words why it is important to tell a trusted adult immediately if something online feels upsetting or unsafe.
• Demonstrate through role-play how to approach a trusted adult and ask for help regarding an online experience.
• Classify online scenarios as needing help from a trusted adult.

Before You Start

Using Digital Devices

Why: Students need basic familiarity with how to operate a tablet or computer to encounter online content.

Identifying People

Why: Students must be able to recognize and name different people in their lives to identify trusted adults.

Key Vocabulary

Trusted Adult	A grown-up, like a parent, teacher, or family member, that you know and feel safe talking to about anything, especially if something online worries you.
Upsetting	Something that makes you feel sad, worried, or uncomfortable when you see it on a screen.
Scared	A feeling of fear or anxiety that something bad might happen, which can be triggered by something you see or experience online.
Wobbly	A feeling of uncertainty or nervousness, often used by children to describe when something online doesn't feel right or makes them feel uneasy.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

I will get in trouble if I see something bad online.

What to Teach Instead

This is the biggest barrier to safety. Repeatedly model that the adult's job is to help, not to punish. Role playing a kind, supportive adult response helps build this trust.

Common Misconception

I can just click 'X' and it's fine.

What to Teach Instead

While closing the window is good, telling an adult is better so they can make sure it doesn't happen again. Use the 'Wobbly Feeling' role play to emphasize the 'telling' part.

Active Learning Ideas

Role Play: The 'Wobbly' Feeling

Students practice a 3-step plan: 1. Close the lid/Turn off the screen. 2. Find a Trusted Adult. 3. Say, 'I saw something that made me feel wobbly.' They take turns being the child and the adult.

20 min·Pairs

Inquiry Circle: The Trusted Adult Tree

Students draw a tree and, on each leaf, write or draw a person they can talk to if they are worried (e.g., Mum, Teacher, Grandma). They compare trees in small groups to see how many 'helpers' they have.

25 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: To Tell or Not to Tell?

The teacher gives 'What If' scenarios (e.g., 'A pop-up ad appears with a scary face'). Students discuss with a partner whether they should keep it a secret or tell someone, and why telling is always the better choice.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• If a child sees something on the BBC Bitesize website that makes them feel worried, they can tell their teacher or a parent. These adults can help explain what they saw or report any issues.
• A child playing a game on a tablet might see an unexpected message or image. They should stop playing and immediately tell a parent or carer, who can then check the game and ensure it is safe.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Show students a picture of a school playground. Ask: 'Who are the trusted adults you might see here if you needed help?' Then show a picture of a home. Ask: 'Who are the trusted adults you might see at home?' Record student responses.

Quick Check

Present students with three simple scenarios on cards: 1. Seeing a funny cat video. 2. Seeing a picture that makes you feel sad. 3. Seeing a message from someone you don't know. Ask students to hold up a green card if it's okay, and a red card if they should tell a trusted adult. Discuss why for each.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a piece of paper. Ask them to draw one trusted adult at school and one at home. Below each drawing, they should write one word describing how they feel when they talk to that adult (e.g., 'safe', 'happy').

Frequently Asked Questions

Who counts as a 'Trusted Adult'?

Anyone the child feels safe with who is a grown-up. Usually parents, teachers, TAs, or grandparents. We encourage them to have at least three people on their list.

How can active learning help students learn to ask for help?

Role play is essential here. By practicing the physical act of walking away from a screen and saying the words 'I need help', children build 'muscle memory'. When a real-life scary situation happens, they are less likely to freeze and more likely to follow the script they practiced in the safety of the classroom.

What if a child doesn't have a trusted adult at home?

This is why identifying school staff is so important. Ensure every child knows they can always talk to any teacher or the 'safeguarding lead' in the school.

How do I handle 'stranger danger' online?

Keep it simple: 'We only talk to people online that we know in real life.' If a 'stranger' tries to talk to them, that's a perfect time to use their 'Asking for Help' skills.