Keeping Your Child Safe Online

The internet is an integral part of children’s lives. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them access to a world of information and experiences.  But, sadly it also poses a number of risks.

As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so – particularly from those people who might seek them out to harm them.

Parents should ensure that they are vigilant in monitoring what children are doing.  Please do check your child’s phone regularly, our staff do not check pupils’ phones. Our leadership team recently took part in some training and were informed that these apps all look innocent, but are specifically designed to conceal secret photos, messages and videos from parents who may be checking their phones.

Please be aware of the icons. Although they look innocent, they have been created to hide what children are really doing online!

Secret Apps

If you have any problems at School, at Home or with your family or friends in relation to E-safety , please let us know at school. We are here to support you and we will do whatever we can to help and keep our pupils safe.

Advice for Parents:

  • Follow some of the basic guidance from healthcare professionals – specifically have tech-free mealtimes and don’t have technology in the bedroom overnight.
  • Talk to your children – take time to understand what they are doing online – don’t always assume that they are up to no good. The most important thing is that if something went wrong (and of course there is evidence to suggest that there are people who exploiting the current situation to trick people when they are at their most vulnerable) children and young people would feel that they would be able to come and speak to someone.

We have compiled a number of resources to support you:

NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe Online

Internet-matters-Parent-Age-Guides-11-13

Internet-matters-Parent-Age-Guides-14

One way you can help protect your child online is through the settings on their devices and this leaflet is aimed at supporting you in doing that Internet-Matters-Tips-Set-up-Safe-checklist

CEOP

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is the UK’s national child protection agency (visit www.ceop.police.uk for more information). CEOP believe the start of the new school year is the perfect time to speak to your child about how they use the internet and how they can stay safe online.

Through the ClickCEOP advice and help centre, members of the public can access guidance on a broad range of topics to help protect their children, or alternatively report a concern directly to CEOP.

When should I report to CEOP?

CEOP children stay safe online. Has someone acted inappropriately towards you online, or to a child or young person you know? It may be sexual chat, being asked to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable or someone being insistent on meeting up. You can report it to CEOP below.

What age can my child start social networking?

Social networks are aimed at different age groups and as a parent it is important to know these ages to ensure that your child is not accessing inappropriate content.  One of the biggest risks to your child on social networks will be other people who are not always who they say they are and may communicate in ways that are not appropriate.

For more information visit:

What age can my child start social networking

Other places to go for help online:

Childline website 

ThinkUKnow advice for 11-13 year olds

ThinkUKnow for 14+

Virgin Media Childrens’ Internet Safety Test

  • BullyingUK/Family Lives helpline – 0808 800 2222
  • Childline 24/7 phone – 0800 1111