With technology updating so quickly and becoming so much cheaper, it is fantastic that we now have the world at our fingertips and can learn in new and engaging ways. However, we have to make sure we are using new technology safely and appropriately and that our children are aware of the dangers of chatting online or sharing personal information.

As part of our PSHE curriculum, we discuss how to stay safe online. In Computing we teach an online safety unit to all pupils each year explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online. We also start each computing lesson with an e-safety reminder. 

Resources to help parents:

There is a safer search engine (just like Google but heavily restricted) which is recommended by CEOP called Swiggle - please use this with your children at home for research. We are planning on using this in school, so the children will soon be familiar with it. http://www.swiggle.org.uk

For younger children, there is a story called 'Smartie the Penguin' which raises issues in a way that young children can relate to.

Resources available for older KS1 children  'Hector's World' - a series of cartoons about online safety and sharing 'personal information'. You can access the videos here: http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/hectorsworld

Also take a look at this website on Safer Internet usage.

Please come into school if you have any concerns at all. 

Top Tips

• Always ask a grown up before you use the internet. They can help you find the best thing to do.
• Don’t tell strangers where you live, your phone number or where you go to school. Only your friends and family need to know that.
• Don’t send pictures to people you don’t know. You don’t want strangers looking at photos of you, your friends or your family.
• Tell a grown up if you feel scared or unhappy about anything.
• You can also call ‘Childline’ on: 08001111 to talk to someone who can help.

We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any Online-Safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our E-Safety Policy.

Guidance for Parents can be found following this link.

Guidance and Support

CEOP

• Ask about games - Parental controls, PEGI ratings and anything else you need to know.
  These family Video Game Guides aim to provide everything you need to know about a game in just a few minutes. With input from game experts and advice from the VSC Rating Board’s PEGI ratings, these short videos provide a quick and clear introduction to the content that matters most to families.

• PEGI games ratings explained
  Video games bring a lot of benefits with them. Alongside entertainment and enjoyment, they enable players to visit other worlds, create ambitious constructions, discover new sports and hobbies and interact with people all over the planet. However, distinguishing what different games present in terms of benefits or dangers in the family can be a challenge. Unlike films and books, you can’t quickly skim through to assess what your children will be experiencing. The PEGI ratings are the mandatory way all UK video-games helpfully disclose this information for consumers.

• Fortnite: all you need to know
  The multiplayer action survival game, Fortnite: Battle Royale, has received a lot of media coverage recently due to growing popularity amongst children – and also emerging safety concerns. We’ve pulled together some information about the game and how to keep your children safe while playing it.

• Are you ready to put your digital Life Skills to the Test?
  You’re not alone if you sometimes worry about what your child does online and how they would deal with something going wrong. Our Digital Life Skills initiative is here to help, giving practical advice and support to parents. We’re currently introducing the initiative to Vodafone employees and will then get in touch with schools to discuss running workshops with them. We’ve also created a Digital Life Skills quiz – why not have a go now?

• NSPCC - Online Safety
  If you follow this link, which is principally in relation to "Parental Controls", you'll see it provides detailed, whilst simple to follow instructions to set parental controls on mobile devices, laptops, search engines, you tube, various games consoles and more.

• Digizen
  Digizen provides information for educators, parents, carers, and young people, offering advice on social networking and cyber-bullying.

• Childnet
  An organisation aimed to help make the Internet a great and safe place for children.

• Safeguarding