Online Safety

The World At Our Fingertips...

With technology updating so quickly and becoming much cheaper, it is fantastic that we now have the world at our fingertips to learn in new and engaging ways. However, we must ensure we are using new technology safely and appropriately and that our children are aware of the dangers of chatting online or sharing personal information.

As part of our PSHE curriculum, we discuss how to stay safe online.

In our computing curriculum, we teach the children how to keep safe while using the internet and different technological devices.

Online safety is intricately woven throughout our entire curriculum, with particular emphasis in computing and RSE teaching. We utilise ProjectEVOLVE as our coordinated online safety education programme. This resource includes all 330 statements from the UK Council for Internet Safety's (UKCIS) framework, 'Education for a Connected World,' covering knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attitudes across eight strands of online life, from early years to age eighteen. The outcomes are carefully mapped to ensure progression.

We deliver ProjectEVOLVE through:

• A discrete starter activity in each computing lesson or class assembly.
• PHSE lessons when relevant.
• A mapped cross-curricular programme.
• Assemblies and pastoral programmes.
• Engagement with national initiatives, such as Safer Internet Day and Anti-Bullying Week.

The children are taught to:

• Check with an adult that it’s okay to use a computer or iPad.
• Ask an adult if they are unsure about anything they see while using the internet or if they want to use a new program or app.
• Tell an adult if they are upset by something they see while using the internet.

Ofcom research in 2016 showed that almost 40% of 3-4-year-olds and two-thirds of 5-7-year-olds go online. There are real advantages in ensuring that children are supported in their internet use from the start.

Resources to Help Parents:

There is a safer search engine (just like Google but heavily restricted) that is recommended by CEOP called Swiggle. Please use this with your children at home for research. We are using it in school, so the children will soon be familiar with it.

Top Tips:

• Always ask a grown-up before using the internet. They can help you find the best thing to do.
• Don’t tell strangers where you live, your phone number, or where you go to school. Only your friends and family need to know that.
• Don’t send pictures to people you don’t know. You don’t want strangers looking at photos of you, your friends, or your family.
• Tell a grown-up if you feel scared or unhappy about anything.
• You can also call ‘Childline’ on 0800 1111 to talk to someone who can help.

We have extensive security measures in place in school, monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any online safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our Online Safety Policy. Schools use the guidance set out in the DfE's Digital and Technology Standards. If parents would like more information on how our school is working towards meeting these standards, they should speak to Miss Morris, our Computing Lead, or Mrs Moody, our Data Protection and Cyber Security Lead.