Online safety and digital literacy: experts highlight need for early years focus

Date: 25th June 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms

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Three leading early years organisations are calling on the UK Government to include young children in future online safety and digital literacy plans. Their warning comes as the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee prepares to publish its final report on media literacy.

Although the review, launched in March 2025, looks at improving digital skills for all age groups, there has been little focus on children under seven, despite research showing they are using phones, social media, and live streaming sites from an early age. Ofcom found that nearly one in five children aged three to five had their own phone, and many used social media without supervision.

The Early Years Alliance, Early Education and the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) are urging the government to add online safety to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. They also want better advice and support for parents, carers and professionals to help children use technology safely and responsibly.

The organisations highlighted Australia as a positive example, where online safety has been built into early years education through national policy.

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