To need help getting started on Instagram

[merrychristmstoyou]

I've just installed instagram on my phone, but just want to follow a couple of accounts - one of them a school account which is open to all, and the other my son's account.

I found the school account quickly, and followed it, but can't see any of its posts. Is that just because they haven't posted anything since I joined? Can I not see past posts?

Also, can anyone give me a guide to the symbols at the top and bottom of the picture?

The house symbol is like a home page of the accounts you follow, the magnifying glass is for searching accounts you know the name of, a theme or #. The plus sign in the middle is what you click on when you want to upload a new image and the heart will show notifications (who has liked or commented on your posts or the name of new followers). The circle in the bottom right corner is a shortcut to your profile.