E-Safety
The internet is a integral part of all of our lives and an important and useful resource for our students. With the development of new technology its availability and easy access has become a normal part of the lives of children and young adults. It is vital that we do all that we can to ensure the safe use of the internet and work together on the issue of e-safety. We employ a real time content and web filtering tool which allows us to protect our students when on the computers and makes us aware of any risks before they become real-life incidents.
E-safety in school
As part of our computing lessons all students will learn about e-safety and all aspects of staying safe online. They are encouraged to report any negative issues they may encounter online to a trusted adult which includes all school staff. We also provide an ‘e-safety’ assembly which includes a focus on e-safety, cyber bullying and the possible consequences of inappropriate internet use.
Top tips for students
- Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
- Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
- Keep your privacy settings as high as possible
- Never give out your passwords
- Don’t befriend people you don’t know
- Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do
- Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
- Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
- Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude
- If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.
Top Tips for Parents
- Talk to your child about what they’re up to online. Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest.
- Encourage your child to go online and explore sites which are fun, educational and that will help them to develop online skills.
- Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online.
- Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world. Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online.
- Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space.
- Know what connects to the internet and how. Make sure you’re aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console.
- Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones.