Online Safety
We value ICT within our school and encourage our children to experience different ways of accessing mobile technology. From laptops and iPads through to games consoles and e-readers, our children are able to access a wealth of resources and explore different technologies to suit their learning styles.
The eSafety of our children is of paramount importance to the school and something that we teach regularly through our computing lessons in school. We also work closely with The Collegiate Trust and DB Primary (our school’s learning cloud provider) to ensure that we are up to date with current advice and practice.
We know that parents and carers will also be very concerned that their children are protected and safe when using the internet, both in school and at home. Please click on the logos below to open trusted websites where you can gather more information and advice.
Parental Controls
Parental controls are an important tool in helping to keep your child safe online. If you haven’t done so already, please set up parental controls on all your children’s devices. There is lots of useful information on the CEOPS, NSPCC or Internet Matters websites (see below).
This NSPCC site, run in partnership with O2, offers a wealth of knowledge and advice on all aspects of internet safety. There is also a free helpline on 0808 800 5002 which parents can ring to get advice on social networks, setting up parental controls or adjusting privacy settings.
NSPCC Net Aware is a guide to social networks for parents and children. It contains written reviews for all major social networking sites written by young people as well as parents, which highlight risks as well as potential advantages.
Internet Matters is an organisation which aim is to keep children safe in the digital world. It provides advice and support for children, young people and parents. There is a particular section which relates to ways to tackle and stop cyber bullying and it can also support with information about parental controls.
Think U Know is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. offers advice for parents and children from 4-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14+. For 8-10 year olds, there is an online game to help teach children about online safety in a fun and informative way.
Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. There are a lot of tools and resources on this site for children, young people, parents and professionals.
Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP and provides support and advice to parents, with contributions from the leading experts and organisations in matters related to young people and families in a digital world. It also offers advice on wider parenting topics including health and wellbeing and education.
If you are worried about online abuse or the way someone has been communicating online, then CEOP operates a 24/7 reporting service. Reports can be made to CEOP by a young person or on their behalf by a parent/carer or professional working with these groups. All reports will be read by a Child Protection Advisor, who are specialist workers who have helped thousands of children. Children under 11 years of age are encouraged to tell an adult that they trust about what has happened and to ask for their help in reporting this either to CEOP or local police. All reports to CEOP are treated as reports of crime and as such, anonymous reports cannot be accepted.
Children at our school have, in the past, been targeted online by an unknown person asking inappropriate questions on Roblox. This is a dangerous game as it links to many unsuitable sites and is easily infiltrated by people who wish to gain access to innocent children. The incident was reported to CEOPS who confirm that these kinds of issues on Roblox are very common, so we advise the website is best avoided for younger children, or at least used with a high level of supervision.
The logo above is a link to an American internet safety blog which gives facts, figures and advice on internet safety.