The key guidance
In England, the main guidance is UKCIS "Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people", last updated in March 2024, alongside Keeping Children Safe in Education. Wales has its own version, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own child protection guidance. All of them follow the same principles: safeguard first, don't view images unless you have to, and involve the police when there are aggravating factors.
The immediate response (any member of staff)
Report to the DSL straight away
Tell the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) the same day.
Don't view, copy, print, share or delete the image
Don't ask the pupil to show or send it to you. If you see it accidentally, tell the DSL.
Don't ask pupils to delete it, or confiscate devices without guidance
Leave decisions about devices to the DSL, following the guidance on searching and confiscation.
Reassure the young person
Tell them they've done the right thing, that they're not in trouble for telling you, and that the school will help.
When to refer to police or children's social care immediately
- An adult is involved
- There is coercion, blackmail, grooming or sextortion
- The images show acts that are unusual for the young person's development, or violent
- A child under 13 is involved
- A young person is at immediate risk of harm, for example presenting as suicidal or self-harming
Where none of these apply, the DSL can usually handle the incident within the school's safeguarding procedures, with parents involved unless that would put the young person at risk.
The DSL's assessment
- Hold an initial review meeting with the appropriate staff
- Speak to the young people involved, separately and sensitively
- Consider why the image was shared: experimental, or aggravated (malicious, coerced, or involving an adult)
- Decide whether a referral to police or social care is needed
- Inform parents and carers at an early stage unless that would put the child at risk
- Help young people use Report Remove to remove images
- Record all decisions and reasons in the safeguarding record
Viewing images: the exceptions
The guidance says staff should avoid viewing images. Only in exceptional cases, such as when it's the only way to decide whether to involve other agencies, should a DSL view an image. That should be with the head teacher's agreement, with another member of staff present, on school premises, and recorded. Never copy or move the image.
AI-generated and faked images
Faked or AI-generated nudes of pupils, often made with "nudify" apps from ordinary photos, should be handled in the same way as real images. They are illegal indecent images of children, and the young person depicted needs the same support. The IWF has reported a sharp rise in these cases.
Sextortion
The National Crime Agency has warned schools about financially motivated sextortion, especially targeting boys aged 14 to 18. Treat any report of threats or demands for money as an aggravated incident and refer it to the police. Make sure pupils know they won't be in trouble for reporting.
Prevention and education
- Cover consent, healthy relationships, image sharing and sextortion in RSHE
- Use CEOP's Thinkuknow resources, which are age-appropriate and free
- Make sure every pupil knows about Report Remove and Childline
- Train all staff on the immediate response every year
Help for professionals
- Professionals Online Safety Helpline (UK Safer Internet Centre): 0344 381 4772
- NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
- CEOP Education: ceopeducation.co.uk
- Full guidance: search "UKCIS sharing nudes and semi-nudes" on gov.uk
Need help right now?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK), 112 (Ireland/EU), 911 (US/Canada) or 000 (Australia).
- Images shared or threatened (adults, UK): Revenge Porn Helpline, revengepornhelpline.org.uk or 0345 6000 459
- Stop images spreading (worldwide, adults): StopNCII.org
- Under 18: Childline's Report Remove tool at childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111. Outside the UK: Take It Down
- More countries and services: see our help and support directory