In school, we provide staff training and regularly teach the children about the importance of keeping themselves safe online. Children with access to the Internet at home should understand that as well as providing a great resource for all of us, the Internet can be a very dangerous place, particularly for young, impressionable children.
As parents, your influence in helping your children to understand the dangers, as well as the opportunities the Internet can bring, is paramount. It is vital that, as parents, you feel confident in ensuring your children's safe use of the Internet and social networking sites. For more information, take a look at the leaflets below we have produced. These leaflets will provide helpful and practical information as to what you, as parents, are able to do to inform, protect and educate your children about the Internet and how it should be used.
What is e-Safety?
e-Safety is not just related to the Internet. It also includes risks related to the use of computers, games consoles, mobile phones, televisions and tablets. Risks posed may include -
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital Literacy is a child's ability to use and access online resources in a safe, responsible and discerning way. Issues associated with this include -
The new Computing curriculum has put a large emphasis on e-Safety and ‘Digital Literacy’ and at school we work with the children to teach them how to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. We believe that it is the right of every child to feel safe and secure when using technology.
How do we teach and promote e-Safety and Digital Literacy?
Online Safety
Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to. Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used. Keeping the computer in a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience – and that they are less likely to act inappropriately (i.e. via webcam).
Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends — personal information includes their messenger ID, email address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family or friends. If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Remind them that anyone may be looking at their images and one day a future employer could!
If your child receives spam/junk email & texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them. It’s not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don’t know. They won’t know what they contain — it could be a virus, or worse — an inappropriate image or film. Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it’s better to keep online mates online. They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult they trust.
Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if they feel uncomfortable.
These websites maybe some use:
One week in February is dedicated to our annual Online Safety week at St Mary’s. All pupils take part in Online Safety lessons, assemblies and discussions during the school day. The purpose of the week is to add emphasis to our on-going work regarding electronic safety for children. Each class has a particular theme that they concentrate on from online stranger danger to cyber bullying to social media.
Children design online safety posters and summarise the week’s learning in their topic books.
As parents and carers there is so much you can do to support your child in this area. If you visit the NSPCC website and go to the 'Preventing Abuse' section there is information on their campaign called 'Share Aware as well as information on online safety and cyber bullying. Please take some time to visit the website and find out how best to support your child.