E-safety A guide to keeping safe on the Internet

"The virtual world opens up new opportunities for learning and creativity, but it also means thinking ahead of new risks."
 
Our pupils are growing up in a world of ever-changing technology. While we feel that the use of technology is a largely positive aspect of modern life, we cannot ignore the risks that can be associated.

Throughout school we aim to teach children:

• about the impact of cyber-bullying and what to do if they have been affected.
• to be vigilant when communicating online recognising that people may not always be who they say they are and to be sensible about what they share.
• to tell an adult they trust if something is upsetting them.
• to question the reliability of information given through a web-based source.
• to search responsibly for information while using internet browsers.

We understand that much of our pupil's use of the internet will occur at home, away from the school filters.

Below are a list of useful websites, advice and resources that you may find helpful when navigating the issue of online safety with your child. At the bottom of this page are resources that your child can directly access as well to help them learn about online safety

Remind your child to be SMART!

SMART rules help children remember how to stay safe online:

SAFE – Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information – including full name and email address - to people who you don’t trust online.

MEETING – Meeting up with someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parent’s/carer’s permission and even then, only when they can be present.

ACCEPTING – Accepting e-mails, IM messages or opening files from people you don’t know can be dangerous – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!

RELIABLE – Someone online may be lying about who they are, and information you find on the internet may not be true. Check information and advice on other websites, in books or ask someone who may know.

TELL – Tell your parent/carer or teacher if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or you or someone you know is being cyberbullied.

Some safe sites for children to use:

Grid Club
CBBC
Club Penguin
Cbeebies 

Useful resources and links

Thinkuknow http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command. Since 2006, it aims to ensure that everyone has access to this practical information – children, young people, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them. 

Internet Matters https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/esafety-leaflets-resources/
A comprehensive web resource with a wide array of tips and advice on how to navigate the online world with your child. Some of their guidance we attach below but you can find even more by visiting the link. 

National Online Safety https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/
National Online Safety's mission is to make the internet a safer place for children. They aim to do this by equipping school staff, parents and children with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and how best to react should an incident arise. The link above provides up to date information about a wide variety of social media apps and platforms your child might be using.

NSPCC http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/
The NSPCC are the first to admit that the internet is amazing. Children can play, learn, create and connect - opening up a whole world of exciting possibilities. But with the digital world changing all the time, how can you make sure your child’s staying safe? That’s where the NSPCC come in. Whether you’re an online expert or you’re not sure where to start, their tools and advice will help you keep your child safe.

Childnet http://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers
Childnet International is a registered UK charity that aims to make the internet a safe place for children and young people. Packed with resources it is a great resource for parents.

CEOP http://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) is part of the National Crime Agency and their website can be used to report if you are worried about online abuse or the way someone is communicating online.

BBC  https://www.bbc.com/ownit
The BBC have a website and app called Own It. The website has a lot of content for children to help them navigate their online lives, and the free smartphone app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support in the moments that children need it the most.

SafetoNet https://safetonet.com/
SafeToNet is technology that educates children “in-the-moment” as they use their device. It is a safeguarding assistant that helps them become responsible and safe digital citizens. Its power lies in a smart keyboard that detects risks in real-time. It steers children away from trouble by filtering harmful outgoing messages before they can be sent and any damage can be done.

When searching the Internet, we recommend you use one of the following child friendly search engines: 

Ask Jeeves for kids - www.askkids.com

Yahoo! Kids - www.kids.yahoo.com

CBBC Search - www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/search 

Google Kids - www.safesearchkids.com/google-kids

Internet safety is an ongoing conversation

The internet can often be unpredictable and vast, and internet safety, at least from a parent’s perspective, can seem like a never-ending task. Parents can’t monitor their children all the time – online or offline! – so they have to work together for internet safety.

Begin by listening

Ask about what they do and enjoy online, what they share and who they share with, and what problems they might face online (or have faced already). There are plenty of guides to help you begin this conversation. For example, the NSPCC website has some good approaches for how to start a conversation with your children about online safety. The UK Safer Internet Centre also has some tips for parents as well as for children, broken down by age and videos

Help develop their critical thinking skills 

Being able to think critically about what we see and read online will only become a more valuable skill in our increasingly digital and connected society. Talk about how you can tell if something – or someone – is trustworthy.

Look at privacy options together

They can be a bit complex, but most social networks have options for who you share your data with and how. Remind them to regularly check their friends list and, if they’re in doubt, to check with them in real life first before accepting a request from someone who appears to be their friend.

Check in regularly

It’s an ongoing conversation, especially as devices and online platforms can change or appear so rapidly (e.g. TikTok’s rapid growth in popularity). Parents can risk letting that generation gap widen unless they keep the conversation going and let their children know that they can come to them with any problems or questions.

Resources for children to use

Below are some links that children themselves can access for help when navigating the tricky subject of online safety,

Reception – Year 2

Below are a number of links that are tailored for children in the younger year groups.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/ 
https://www.netsmartzkids.org/
https://www.childnet.com/resources/smartie-the-penguin

Year 3 – Year 6

Below are links more suitable for older children.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/
https://www.nsteens.org/