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E-Safety
E-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 e-safety issues so they can learn to use the Internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way
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. But there can be risks associated with this and therefore we want to support you in keeping your child safe online.
You can engage with your children regarding their use of the Internet while at home. 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
Search engines
Please note that no search engine is ever 100% safe but here is a child friendly search engine designed by google. Click here to access this.
Top tips for online safety at home
- Install antivirus software and secure your Internet connection. - More advice on online security can be accessed at www.getsafeonline.org/
- Make the most of the parental controls on your children’s internet enabled devices and games consoles to help restrict access to inappropriate content. They can also help you manage how much time your child spends online.
- Do your research and select the tools which are most suitable to you, your child and the technology in your home. Find more information on parental controls at: www.internetmatters.org , www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/a-parents-guide
- Set up filters on internet search engines to limit the likelihood of your children accidentally coming across inappropriate content when searching online. Ensure your child understands that parental controls are in place to protect them, not restrict them; some children will actively work around parental controls if they feel constrained without knowing why.
- Read any parental guidance and safety recommendations for games, apps or websites before allowing your child to use them. The following guides provide balanced information to help you make informed decisions: www.net-aware.org.uk, www.askaboutgames.com, www.commonsensemedia.org
- Be aware that parental control tools and filters are not always 100% effective and you can’t rely on them alone to protect your child online. It’s important to monitor and supervise your child’s online activities; where possible access should take place in a family area, but this will depend on the age and ability of your child.
At school
As part of your child’s curriculum and the development of ICT skills, we provide access to the Internet. We strongly believe that the use of the Internet is hugely worthwhile and an essential tool for children as they grow up in the modern world. But 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 on the Internet. We then ask every child from Year 2 upwards to sign an acceptable use policy so that we know they have read and understood our school's rules on staying safe.
If you are concerned about your child's online activity
Be alert to any changes in behaviour, language and attitude in your child that may indicate that something is upsetting them online, for example, if your child starts to withdraw from family and friends or becomes secretive about their online behaviour.
- If your child discloses an online issue or concern to you, ensure you listen to them. Avoid being angry or blaming them; reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you.
- Take their concerns seriously; even if you feel they are overreacting or their worries are unfounded, it is important not to dismiss their feelings as this can prevent them from coming to you for help again in the future.
- Support your child to report and block people online who may have tried to contact them or have sent them nasty or inappropriate messages or content.
- Help your child to report to the site or service where the concern happened. Depending on the issue, you can report specific concerns online at: -
- Inappropriate content: reportharmfulcontent.com
- Terrorist content: act.campaign.gov.uk
- Child Sexual Abuse Imagery: iwf.org.uk
- Online Child Sexual Abuse: ceop.police.uk
