Online Safety
Cyber-safety is a key aspect of our curriculum. Each year, children learn about different aspects of how to keep themselves safe online, within both Computing and PSHE, and are reminded of some of the risks the internet might pose. We know that technology changes rapidly, though, and strive to ensure parents and family members feel confident about helping their children use the internet safely at home using our weekly newsletters and parent workshop. A couple of tips which might help are:
- Remember that children need to be older than 13 to use social networking sites, including FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat.
- Call of Duty has an 18 certificate, and should not be played by children younger than this. Certificates attached to games are as important as those applied to films, so please make sure that your children only use age-appropriate games.
- Demos of games are often available on YouTube, so if you are not certain whether they are appropriate before you buy them try googling the name to see if any previews are available.
- Keep an ongoing, open dialogue with your child about their internet use. This Family Online Safety Plan and Conversation Starters might be helpful prompts into conversations with your children, to encourage them to be open with you about their internet use.
Children start using devices from a very early age and are increasingly using the internet frequently at home, in school, on their mobile phones or on a games console. With this in mind, internet safety and knowing how to help protect children and young people online is essential. We are committed to working in partnership with parents to best support our pupils to become safe, responsible, informed and thoughtful users of the internet.
In school, children learn the SMART Rules to help them understand how to stay safe online. This teaching is underpinned by our acceptable use policies for younger children and those in Key Stage Two. Our Cyber-Bullying Policy outlines our approach when problems, either inside or outside school, occur.
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Videos and Gaming
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Watching Videos
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Chatting making, friends and being kind
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Sharing Personal Information
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Sharing Pictures and Videos
Thames Valley Police newsletter: Gaming and Online Friendships
Useful resources
Some of the most useful resources to help you find out more about keeping your child safe on the internet are collected below.
- Vodafone: Helpful resources, advice and guidance, including information about parental controls and maintaining positive mental health while learning remotely. The latest copy of Digital Parenting 2021 is included here, with some really useful articles and suggestions
- Net Aware: A simple, easy-to-use guide to the latest social media, apps and games that young people use from the NSPCC
- Think U Know: Containing internet safety advice for those aged from 5 to 16, produced by CEOP
- UK Safer Internet Centre: Including a range of resources to support annual Safer Internet Day
- NSPCC: Some great self-help guides for parents to develop understanding of key issues
- Childnet International: A range of information for parents, carers and children
- Kidscape: An organisation which helps to prevent bullying and child abuse
- Childline: ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK
- BBC Stay Safe: Lots of child-friendly information about using the internet safely
- Net Smartz Kids: Animations, videos, games and activities for children
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) works to protect children from harm online and offline. In school, children are taught to look out for the CEOP button to report anything that happens online which worries them or makes them feel uncomfortable. They can also access this in the footer on this website.