Online Safety
In today's developing society, children use lots of different technologies such as mobile phones, games consoles and the internet on a daily basis and experience a wide range of opportunities. This level of technology and the ways in which we can communicate are beneficial to all but can occasionally place children, young people and adults in danger if they are not managed appropriately.
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Online safety covers those issues and aims to give children the skills that they need in order to use the internet and other technologies safely and how to act if they discover or receive inappropriate communication. Online safety covers internet technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It allows children to understand the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.
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Online safety concerns safeguarding children and young people in the digital world.
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Online safety emphasises learning to understand and use new technologies in a positive way.
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Online safety is less about restriction and more about education about the risks as well as the benefits so we can feel confident online.
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Online safety is concerned with supporting children and young people to develop safer online behaviours both in and out of school.
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At School
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As part of your child’s curriculum and the development of ICT skills, we provide access to the internet only in teacher supervised lessons. 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.
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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 Agreement 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 and you can download a copy here.
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"You have the right to get information in lots of ways - so long as its safe," Article 17.
In school, we aim for pupils to become digitally literate; where they can use and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology. This is to development pupils at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
All pupils need to be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology with a clear understanding about how to be safe online which directly links with Online Safety. We use a scheme of work created by UK Safer Internet Centre called ‘Project Evolve’. Its aim is to allow children to understand how to be safe online as well as making them digital literate.
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There are eight strands to cover all aspects of online life:
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Self Image and Identity: shaping online identities and how media impacts on gender and stereotypes
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Managing Online Relationships: relationships and behaviours that may lead to harm and how positive online interaction can empower and amplify voice.
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Online Reputation: strategies to manage personal digital content effectively and capitalise on technology’s capacity to create effective positive profiles
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Online Bullying: strategies for effective reporting and intervention and how bullying and other aggressive behaviour relates to legislation
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Managing Online Information: offers strategies for effective searching, critical evaluation and ethical publishing
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Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle: understanding negative behaviours and issues amplified and sustained by online technologies and the strategies for dealing with them
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Privacy and Security: behavioural and technical strategies to limit impact on privacy and protect data and systems against compromise.
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Copyright and Ownership: protecting personal content and crediting the rights of others as well as addressing potential consequences of illegal access, download and distribution.
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At Home
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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 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 download a simple checklist here that may help you start to protect your children online and decrease the risks they face. Or you can engage with your children regarding their use of the internet while at home. Visiting together www.childnet.com to gain a better understanding of how to deal with Online safety issues at home. Below is a range of materials, advice and activities designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the importance of Online safety.
Click on the links below for a range of Online Safety activities and resources:
Think U Know
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This website offers a range of resources for all ages. You can find the latest information on this site about visit, mobiles and new technology. You can find out what's good, what's not and what you can do about it.
KidSMART
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This website offers a range of resources for all ages. You can find the latest information on this site about visit, mobiles and new technology. You can find out what's good, what's not and what you can do about it.
CBBC Stay Safe
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This website offers children advice and support about how to stay safe online. Children can test their internet safety knowledge with Hacker. Children can listen to some stay safe songs.
The Adventures of Kara​
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This website offers a range of cartoons, illustrating five Online safety SMART rules and includes a real life SMART crew of young people, who guide the cartoon characters in their quest, and help them make safe online decisions.
