Online Safety

We live in a world that is characterised by abundant information, advanced technology. Digital technology will play an integral role in enabling us to implement our vision for learning. 

Alongside the benefits of access to technology, come increased risks to children. Lack of guidance and learning in online-safety can mean children are unaware of the unintended consequences of their on-line behaviour or actions. It highlights the need to educate pupils and the school community about the benefits and risks of using Internet technologies and electronic communications, and provide safeguards and awareness for users, to enable them to control their online experience.

Our vision is to make the children at Longcot and Fernham CE  Primary School as safe and productive in the on-line world, both in school and outside of school, as they are in the real world.

Protect

Protecting pupils means providing a safe learning environment by using appropriate monitoring and filtering to control what children can access while at school. But, this only protects them while they are on school premises. Education around e-safety is the only way to ensure that, wherever they are, they know how to stay safe online.

Educate

Empowering children at an early age with the knowledge to safeguard themselves and their personal information is something that needs to be nurtured throughout school to see them into adult life. Equally it is important to empower adults, particularly parents, with the right information so that they can identify risky behaviour, or mitigate the possibility of risk.

Respond

Responding to issues is both about ensuring pupils know what to do if anything happens to put their online safety at risk, and taking direct and immediate action as a school where incidents occur.

Using the Internet safely at home

Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to help you safeguard your child at home, it remains surprisingly easy for children to access inappropriate material including unsuitable texts, images and movies. Parents/guardians are advised to set the security levels within Internet Browsers with this in mind.

Locating the device to access the Internet in a family area will enable you to supervise children as they use the Internet. However, don’t deny your child the opportunity to learn from the wide variety of material and games available on the Internet. Instead, set some simple rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand the importance of these rules.

Simple, suggested rules for keeping your child safe

• ask your permission before they use the Internet
• only use websites you have chosen together or a child friendly search engine
• only email people they know (perhaps an address book would be useful)
• ask permission before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know
• do not use Internet chat rooms
• do not use their real name when using games on the Internet (perhaps encourage them to create a suitable nick name)
• never give out a home address or personal contact details
• never tell someone where they go to school
• never send an image of themselves, their home or school
• never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the Internet
• only use a webcam with people they know
• ask them to tell you immediately if they see anything they are unhappy with

Using these rules

Go through the rules with your child and ensure they understand what you suggest. It is also a good idea to regularly check the Internet sites your child is visiting e.g. by clicking on History and Favourites.

Please reassure your child that you want to keep them safe rather than take Internet access away from them.

Useful Websites

Childnet International - http://www.childnet.com/resources     

Childline - http://www.childline.org.uk

Think U Know (links to CEOP) - www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - www.ceop.gov.uk

CBBC Stay Safe - www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe  

Web Cam fact sheet - http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Documents/Webcam%20fact%20sheet%202.pdf

Grid Club and the Cyber Cafe - http://www.gridclub.com

Safe Search Kids - https://www.safesearchkids.com/parents-guide-to-protecting-teens-on-social-media/#.WcfbE9OGMb0

Internet Matters - https://www.internetmatters.org/start-school-safe-online/

Phone Brain - http://www.phonebrain.org.uk/what-should-i-watch-out-for/

Reporting Online-Safety Concerns

If you are worried about online abuse or the way someone has been communicating online, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre has an online reporting tool.