Online Safety

 

Children today live in a world where Information and Commutation Technology (Computing) is increasingly becoming one of their main methods of learning and communicating. We try to educate our pupils to be safe whilst using technology in both our school and at home.

 

In addition to a robust Online Safety Policy, we regularly share with our families information and guidance on:

  • How the children use Computing in schools.
  • How using Computing at home can help them to learn.
  • How they can use the internet safely at home.
  • Where to find more information.

We recommend our families visit the U.K. Safer Internet pages regularly for advice on our technologies including privacy settings, safety tools and more resources to help keep their child safe online.

All staff and pupils sign Acceptable Use Policies covering their use of technology and computer rules. Posters are displayed around the school to remind pupils of their commitment.

Our school computers/tablets are protected by software which identifies potential violations by any user which may need investigating.

Online safety is reinforced regularly throughout the curriculum in every class and our school also takes part in Safer Internet Day.

 

Advice to Families:

Here are some simple rules to help your child stay safe online. It is a good idea to discuss these with your child and help them to understand how important they are. You may wish to download our Parent's Guide to Online Safety. It includes lots of information regarding how to use the internet safely, and some computer rules. We hope all our children will use the same computer rules at home as they do in school.

 

TO STAY SAFE YOUR CHILD SHOULD:

Always ask permission before using the internet and discuss what sites they are using.

Use websites you and your child have chosen together and always use a child friendly search engine.

Only email people they know - help them to set up an address book.

Always discuss with you if they receive an email from people they don't know. Encourage your child to not open such emails at all.

Create a nickname to use for games and websites and do not use their real name.

Never give out personal information about themselves, friends or family online including home address, phone or mobile number.

Never arrange to meet someone they have 'met' on the internet without talking to a trusted adult first.

Never tell someone they don't know where they go to school or post any pictures of themselves in school uniform.

Only use webcams with people they know.

Tell someone immediately if they see or receive anything that makes them feel unhappy.

 

Online Safety Policy

Useful Resources

 

Resources following the Online Safety Awareness Training for parents:

Information Sheet for Parents

Digital Wellbeing Index

Further Resources

 

Click CEOP (see the bottom of this page). A website to report online sexual abuse or concerns about online communication. www.ceop.police.uk 

www.thinkuknow.co.uk go here for advice, to report concerns and access home activity packs.

 

PEGI (Pan European Game Information) - https://pegi.info/parental-controls  information about computer games and their ratings and how to set parental controls.

 

Net Aware - set up by the NSPCC and O2 this website allows you to check games, apps and social media sites to find out what they are and what their age rating is https://www.net-aware.org.uk/

 

Internet Matters - this gives advice by age. Whatever your child's age you can find out more about what they might be doing online and get practical advice on the steps you can take as a parent to keep your children safe in their digital world.  www.internetmatters.org

 

2Simple Booklet - Parenting in a digital world. This covers everything from being a role model to digital footprints, self image and identity.