Online Safety
HOW DO WE TEACH ONLINE SAFETY?
Teaching children how to stay safe online is a key part of our approach to teaching digital literacy at Martello Primary. Online safety is taught through Computing lessons from Year 1 to Year 6. At Key Stage 1, children look at the importance of keeping personal information private online, what to do if they have a problem while using technology, and issues around cyberbullying. At Key Stage 2, children develop a deeper understanding of these issues, and also look at concepts such as our digital footprint, risks arising from downloading files, and website security.
Children use the SMART rules at school, and are expected to use these when using technology out of school, to make sure that they stay safe online. These rules should be followed when using any device that connects to the Internet, including mobile phones, tablets and games consoles.
Child Online Safety During Lockdown:
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILD?
As a parent, you will know how important the Internet is to children as a place to communicate, learn and have fun. Keeping up with what children like to do online can seem a little daunting, but it is important to ensure you are able to support your children and to help them stay safe online.
There are an increasing number of sites and web content that can be upsetting and even dangerous for children. Martello Primary advises that parents engage with children in all aspects of their online activities:
Be aware of how your child engages with the online world (gaming / YouTube / website surfing)
Talk to your child about their online habits
Be aware if your child is engaging in social networking and decide what is appropriate for your child.
Make sure your child knows what to do if they do come across inappropriate content or something that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Make sure your child accesses age appropriate content and gaming.
Check your own parental controls on iPads, mobiles devices and computers
Make sure that your children don't share personal information unnecessarily or unsafely
Consider limiting screen time or having a set time that the WiFi goes OFF!
Online Resources
Childnet produces a useful guide for parents around the types of risks facing young people online, and ideas for starting conversations with them. This can be found here.
The following websites will also support you with keeping your children safe online:
Thinkuknow is an online safety education program from CEOP, part of the National Crime Agency. The Thinkuknow resource provides support for young people from KS1-KS4, and a dedicated area for parents and carers who wish to learn more about online safety. The site also contains the ‘Report Abuse’ button, where children and adults can report contact that is inappropriate, or that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Net Aware, produced by the NSPCC, is a guide to the most popular social networks, apps and games used by children. It aims to provide parents with the information they need to understand their child’s online world and to give them confidence to have balanced and informed conversations about what they are doing online. It also provides information on age limits, and contains advice from other parents.
We offer regular awareness sessions for parents around online safety and protecting our children from online risks, so please come along when these are advertised. You will also find an online safety tip in every school newsletter, designed to raise awareness of current trends and issues. If you have any concerns about the online safety of your child, please do come and speak to us.
Safety Detectives – This guide features what children do online, the threat of online strangers and how to ensure a healthy balance between Internet use, your children’s online privacy, digital security and online safety.
Help and Updates
CEOP are continuing to deliver e-safety activity packs over the next couple of months. This week, all of their packs explore sharing images.
Alongside this they have released new videos for parents and carers exploring the positives and the risks of sharing images online and offering practical advice on:
What they can do to reduce risks and
How they can seek help if they're concerned about an image that's been shared.
Screen time and boosting digital resilience
CEOPs surveys have shown that screen time has been a key concern for many parents and carers over the lockdown period.
Useful Links and Sites:
However, high-quality screen time can offer opportunities for learning, staying connected and boosting digital resilience.
Parent Videos and Information on E-Safety and Sharing Images: ThinkUKnow
Parent Videos and Information on Screen Time: ThinkUKnow
Activities to Boost Digital Resilience
Learning Resources for Children:
The above links contain useful learning resources catered towards each age group. Each link may contain either animation, learning packs, activities or more to convey the importance of internet safety to children. These are accessible with subtitles and British Sign Language.
The internet is an amazing resource which enables us to connect, communicate and be creative in a number of different ways, on a range of devices. However the internet is always changing and being able to keep up to date with your children’s use of technology can be a challenge.