Online Safety
It's important to remember that the legal age to have an account on most social media - Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat - is 13 years old.
Online Safety
Online safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of online safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way.
You can access the DofE online parents support website called Parent Info here
At Home
As a parent you'll know how important the internet is to children - they use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves. It's a highly creative place of amazing opportunities. Nonetheless the technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online - such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content.
You can help protect your children online and decrease the risks that they face whilst using the internet. Here are some conversation starter ideas from www.childnet.com
- Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
- Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?
- Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.
- Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
- Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online
Parent Resources
To try and help parents with the fast moving and changing world of internet and social media we've suggested a few internet sites, listed below, which have some fantastic resources that contain information on different types of social media and how to help keep children safe.
Childnet have also produced a leaflet for parents which you can download here.
At School
As part of your child’s curriculum and the development of computer skills, we provide access to the internet in lessons when required. We strongly believe that the use of the web and email is hugely worthwhile and an essential tool for children as they grow up in the modern world. Because there are always concerns about children having access to undesirable materials, we have taken positive steps to deal with this risk in school. Our school internet access provider operates a filtering system that restricts access to inappropriate materials.
At the start of the school year, each class discusses how we can all stay safe online and the dangers we may face whilst using the internet. We then ask every child in Key Stage 2 to sign an Acceptable User Policy so that we know they have read and understood our school's rules on staying safe. We also have an Acceptable Use Agreement for our younger children in the Early Years and Key Stage 1.
Jessie and Friends
To see the latest information for parents on how to keep their 4-7 years safe online, please click here.
Smartphone Safe
If you would like to know more information on how to keep your child safe when they are using a smartphone here is a very useful and informative link here
Internet Safety Resources
There is a great new online safety tool designed for parents launched by the Department for Education called Parent Info. It's has advice on everything from keeping children safe from online trolls to WhatsApp - a guide for parents.
Childnet is a great website resource for parents and children on online safety. Click here to watch an interactive video on how to keep your child safer online.
Think U Know has a great section for parents and covers topics such as gaming and talking to strangers. You can also search by topic or age range to find information that is relevant for your family. You can find the site here.
Internet Matters is another great site to use - it has advice on cyberbullying, how to talk to your children about internet safety and quick guides to different types of social media such as Instagram and Snapchat. You can visit their pages here Internet Matters.
Here are quick links to a range of Internet safety sites that you may find useful too.