E-Safety
E-safety is a major part of our curriculum and an area we take very seriously. The digital age in which we live provides many exciting opportunities, but can also present certain risks.
To make sure our pupils are able to use technology as a valuable learning resource, our curriculum actively promotes and teaches pupils how to use electronic devices safely. Through specifically designed programmes for primary school children from CEOP(Child Exploitation and Online Protection), assemblies, class discussions and planned visits from experts, pupils are taught about how to use the internet and digital equipment appropriately and keep themselves safe.
To outline our expectations and ensure that the school community uses the equipment appropriately, our staff and pupils follow an Acceptable Use policy. Due to the importance we place on E-safety, families will have opportunities to participate in workshops with external partners in the coming academic year.
Similarly, if you have any concerns about a child’s online activity, please speak to Mrs Coles, our Online Safety Lead. Families can also raise concerns to CEOP, by clicking here
How Can I Ensure My Child Is Safe Online?
You don’t need to be a technical expert to protect your child on the internet. Here are some very simple steps to keep your child safe online.
- Ensure you are aware which websites your children are using. Talk to your child about the websites that they use and involve yourself in their internet use, so that you understand. Explain to your children you’re helping to keep them safe.
- The internet is a fantastic learning and communication tool, so be positive about it and try not to overreact to minor issues. If your child worries that you may take away their access, they could become secretive and hide problems from you.
- Wherever possible, keep PCs, laptops and games consoles out of bedrooms, so that it is easier for you to monitor your child’s internet use. Please also remember that games consoles can be used for on-line gaming and therefore your child can chat to people online
- Just like school, set clear expectations and ground rules for when your child is on-line. If they understand what is and isn’t acceptable, it may help them to navigate any problems in the future.
- Make sure all devices that connect to the internet have parental controls to help you set appropriate boundaries. Find your service provider and learn how to set your controls. if you are unsure about this, please contact a member of the team, who will be only too happy to help.
- Make sure that you are in control of the privacy settings for any of the on-line apps being used by your child. These need to be checked regularly to ensure that they are at the highest setting.
Please click on the link to view the NSPCC Share Aware Booklet, which contains lots of information for families.
NSPCC Share Aware booklet.