- Discusses, monitors and reviews our online safety policy on a regular basis.
ONLINE SAFETY
Welcome to the online safety section of our website. Here you can find information about how to stay safe online, including the safe and responsible use of social media.
Everybody who has access to the Internet could see inappropriate websites and images; be the victim of cyber bullying, or receive spam emails so it is really important that we know how to use technology and the Internet safely.
The Internet is also a BRILLIANT resource full of useful information and we have the ability to download music, create websites, enhance learning, read the news, watch videos/TV, make phone calls, write blogs and chat. At Barrowford St Thomas CE Primary School we encourage responsible use of IT and if we are aware of the possible dangers and follow the simple online safety rules we can stay safe online and have fun!
At home, sometimes children can be given unsupervised access to the Internet. This, potentially, allows them to gain access to social media sites where strangers can virtually enter their homes.
It is essential that we know how to stay safe online.
Our school community:
- Supports staff in the use of IT as an essential tool for enhancing learning and in the embedding of e-safety across the whole school curriculum.
- Ensures that pupils are aware, through online safety education, of the potential online safety risks associated with the use of ICT. Additionally, we ensure that all online safety concerns are dealt with sensitively and effectively and that pupils feel able and safe to report incidents.
- Provides opportunities for parents/carers to receive online safety education and information to enable them to support their children in developing good online safety behaviour. The school will report back to parents/carers regarding online safety concerns. Parents/carers in turn work with the school to uphold the online safety policy.
- Seeks to learn from e-safety good practice elsewhere.
Click here to see the Lancashire Safeguarding Children’s Board Online Information for parents.
Click here to go to the pupil’s Online Safety site.
Key Resources:
Barrowford St Thomas online safety policy
Barrowford St Thomas acceptable use policy
Here are links to useful websites where you can learn more about being safe on the Internet:
Information for Children
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/beingsmart
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/
The-Adventures-of-Smartie-the-Penguin – An e-safety story for EYFS/KS1 children.
DigiDuck-eBook – An e-safety story for EYFS/KS1 children.
Information for Parents and Carers
Think U Know – containing Internet safety advice for those aged from 5 to 16, along with parents and teachers, this site is produced by CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
Vodafone Parents – Vodafone have lots of fantastic practical advice for parents. You can also read their ‘Digital Parenting’ magazine.
Kidsmart – An award-winning internet safety programme for children.
Know IT All – lots of useful advice for keeping yourselves and your children safe on the Internet.
Bullying UK – Information and advice about bullying for children, parents and schools.
Kidscape – An organisation that helps to prevent bullying and child abuse.
Childline – ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK
Safer-Internet-Day – Safer Internet Day (SID) is organised by Insafe in February of each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world.
nspcc share aware – asking parents to be share aware and keep children safe online.
net-aware – www.net-aware.org.uk – nspcc guide to the social networks that children use.
Childnet – www.childnet.com – A non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.
Support for Parents and Carers
- Explore online safety sites – There are lots of links to useful e-safety sites for children. They are great fun to explore, so why not browse through them with your children?
Parents-Conversation-Starters-SID15
- Keep your computer in a shared area – Talk to your child about what they are doing online and, if possible, set up your computer in a shared area at home so that you can all share in the wonderful sites that are available online.
- Facebook/Twitter/Instagram and Snapchat – These sites have a minimum age limit of 13, so our pupils should not be using them.
- Games like Halo, COD and Grand Theft Auto are marked 18, they are unsuitable for young children.
If you have any concerns about safety online, please contact the school.
Safer Internet Day
We take part in Safer Internet Day every year.
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
