Responding to a new BBC Teach survey of teachers on online safety, marking Safer Internet Day on 11 February, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Schools do their best to teach children about online safety - but they are only one part of the solution, and by its nature the online world is accessible around the clock.

“Social media providers need to go further in strengthening their existing age verification procedures to ensure that children are prevented from signing up for websites that they are too young to use. Most sites use some form of self-reporting to verify users’ ages, but this is easily circumvented by entering false birth dates. They also need to improve monitoring and ensure there are clear functions to report concerns and more transparent codes of conduct setting out the implications of misuse.

“Where websites and social platforms are intended to be used by children and young people, more must also be done to ensure that the content and function is appropriate.

““The government must establish a clear national strategy and education programme to raise public awareness and improve online safety.

“This must include supporting parents and carers to understand the risks and benefits of their children’s screen use outside of school. NAHT stands ready to work with the government and all stakeholders to help make this a reality.”