Online Safety
Information about keeping your child safe online:
- Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore they do not always know who they are talking to
- Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if needed.
- 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 child to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends — personal information includes their messenger ID, e-mail 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.
- Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
- monitor what your child is doing online by looking regularly at their phone, tablet or other electronic device
There is a helpful online NSPCC workshop for parents aimed at supporting parents to keep children safe online: NSPCC Online Safety Workshop for Parents and Carers (youtube.com)
Reporting Harmful Online Content
It may be that you, or your child, come across something upsetting or concerning online. It is important that you feel confident about what to do if you do see something inappropriate online, or if your child tells you they’ve seen something.
If you're worried about something a child or young person may have experienced online, you can contact the NSPCC helpline for free support and advice on 0808 800 5000 or online. If your child needs more support, they can contact Childline.
Follow this link for more information about harmful content online:
Reporting online safety concerns | NSPCC
Safer Internet Day
This year Safer Internet Day explores reliability online. The internet has an amazing range of information and opportunities online, but how do we separate fact from fiction?
Safer Internet Day will be celebrated globally with the slogan: Together for a better internet.
More info here:
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2021
With technology changing constantly, it can be hard to keep up with every new app and website. To help with this, ParentZone has developed a series of 'parent guides' which explain a range of apps and websites, their benefits, and the potential risks around them.
https://parentzone.org.uk/advice/parent-guides
Recently published was this parent guide to TikTok: https://parentzone.org.uk/article/tiktok
Useful websites:
www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/
http://ctech.link/child-privacy
http://www.o2.co.uk/help/everything-else/digital-family
https://www.gocompare.com/broadband/parental-controls/
Please note that we have no association with any of the above links, these have been shared due to having relevant and appropriate content at the time of writing. In the event that something is inappropriate on one of these sites then please contact the school.