The government has announced that the Safer Internet Centre is to benefit from an extra £500,000 in funding, boosting the institution’s ability to deliver on its key objectives.

Coordinated by a trio of organisations - Childnet International, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation - the centre provides information and education resources for schools and teachers about how to be safe online.

In additional to the extra cash, the Department for Education said that it has added internet safety to the curriculum, conscious of the fact that this has long been a concern of many.

Youngsters will learn about the benefits of the internet, as well as the dangers, helping them navigate the world wide web in a safe and enjoyable way, whereby they can utilise the benefits of the technology without worry.

Speaking on Boxing Day, education secretary Nicky Morgan also urged parents to familiarise themselves with best practice when it comes to online safety, saying that it is very likely many children will have received devices like tablets and laptops at Christmas.

The MP said that this is an issue many mums and dads are concerned about, as the many conversations she has had with parents suggest apprehension about how best to deal with the internet.

“This isn’t just about what they may be exposed to but ensuring that parents’ pockets are also not hit by the unauthorised purchasing of apps and games - something very easily done,” Ms Morgan elaborated.

“But this isn’t just a problem for parents, schools have a role to play too, which is why we have put online safety at the heart of the curriculum and I am delighted to announce extra funding to ensure children are given the information and tools they need to protect themselves online.”

The money will go directly to schools, helping them better deliver programmes about online safety, as well as being earmarked for regional events, in the development of new multimedia resources and towards supporting a “vital helpline” for reporting online criminal content.

David Cameron has also spoken about the concerns he has about online safety, not just as a politician but as a father himself.

Speaking at an online child abuse summit last month, the prime minister said that he wants his three children to grow up safe not just on the streets, but also online too.

"Children growing up in our world today, there are lots of threats they face,” Mr Cameron said.

"The threats are evolving. I'm 48, I don't want to seem like a fuddy-duddy, but when I grew up, it was 'Could you help Dad work the betamax video recorder?' "Now we have tablets, iPads, iPhones, DSs in the house ... a whole set of new things we have to do make sure our children are safe."

In 2015, Safer Internet Day will be held on February 10th. The global event will see over 100 countries get together to “promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people”.