What is Online Safety?
Today’s children experience a vastly different childhood compared to our own. With the entire world accessible at their fingertips, the digital age brings both excitement and concerns. While the internet offers vast opportunities, it also poses potential dangers. As parents and educators, we aim to equip our children with the knowledge to navigate safely. As a school, we strive to inform parents and carers about the online landscape their children encounter.
Online Safety at Home
Almost all children have accessed the internet, with a significant portion (42%) of 6-10 year olds owning a tablet. Apps like TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram are now part of daily life for many children. 49% of 6-10 year olds prefer to watch YouTube content rather than TV programmes on a TV set. While these apps offer communication and entertainment, understanding them is crucial.
Parental Controls
Although not a foolproof solution, filters and parental controls serve as the first line of defence for online safety. Setting filters on broadband, devices, and applications is now possible and highly recommended. Check out the resources below for guidance on setting up parental controls.
What do we do in School?
The school ensures online safety is taught through dedicated computing lessons for children from EYFS to Year 6. A team of Digital Leaders, trained in online safety, visit each class every Monday to discuss the week’s online safety poster. These posters are also shared on the Parent App for parents’ awareness. Read our Digital Leader page to find out more about their role in school.
Parent workshops are organised once a term, targeting different year groups (Year 5 and 6 parents in Autumn, Year 3 and 4 parents in Spring, and Year 1 and 2 parents in Summer). Parents are invited to learn about online dangers and the best strategies to keep their children safe. Read our E-Safety Parent Workshop page for more information about the workshops and the resources used in them.
In February, the school celebrates Safer Internet Day, a day dedicated to staying safe online and celebrating the positive aspects of technology and the internet. This event helps children reinforce their knowledge and understanding of online safety in a fun and engaging way.
Resources
Here are some websites that are useful for learning more about online safety or for using with children to talk about online safety.
Safer internet – https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
NSPCC – Talking to children: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/talking-child-online-safety/
NSPCC – Parental controls: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/
Parental controls – Parental Controls & Privacy Settings Guides | Internet Matters
Google – Family Link: https://families.google/familylink/
Common sense media – Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families | Common Sense Media
Lego: Build and Talk: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/children/buildandtalk/
Lego – Cyberbullying info: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/cyberbullying/help-for-parents
Lego – Screen time: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/screen-time-tips
Lego – False information: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/false-information-tips
Lego – Online Security: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/online-security-tips
Lego – Privacy and Safe Sharing: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/privacytips
Lego – Digital Footprints: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/sustainability/buildandtalk/digital-footprint-tips
Google – Interland game: https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/interland
Google – Space shelter game: https://spacesheltergame.withgoogle.com/
