Online Safety Tips

 
 Online Safety

It is the duty of parents and staff who should work with children to ensure that all users of the "virtual" or digital world are safe and that the same standards of safe and acceptable behaviour that apply in school is also applied online.

We need to recognise and guard against bullying, intimidation, discriminination and exploitation of vulnerable users amongst the online users we know but more importantly from "stranger danger".

Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Whimple Primary. At school we have  security measures and safe working practices to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material.

In school children are taught how to stay safe and behave appropriately online. We educate children on what to do when they encounter danger and how best to deal with it. As a school online safety incidents are dealt with in accordance with our policies.

We will be more successful in keeping children safe online if we work together to ensure the online safety message is consistent. It is important that adults speak to their children about how they can keep safe, teach them how to behave appropriately online, set rules and deal with bad behaviour.

If you have any questions then please don't hesitate to contact the school. We may be able to help or direct you to get advice about keeping you and your children safe whilst online.

Discuss these simple rules with your child about how to stay safe online and when using a mobile phone:

Never give out personal details to online ‘friends’. Use a nickname when logging on and don’t share full name, email address, mobile number, school name and any photos – any picture or video online can be changed or shared without permission.

Be aware of "stranger danger". People online can pretend to be someone else to gain your trust and confidence. Don’t keep online experiences secret - share your online experiences with family or friends - remember your real friends can help

Beware of what you share (i.e. no inappropriate words, images or videos). Think: “Would I be embarrassed if my family or friends saw this?”

Learn how to respond to negative words, messages, images or video that upset you. Tell a trusted adult and then take steps to avoid this being repeated…

Don’t open files sent from people you don’t know. They could contain a virus, or worse – an inappropriate image or film.

Talk to a trusted adult before responding to any suggestions that make you feel uncomfortable. An online ‘friend’ is anyone you have not met in real life; no matter how long you have been friends with them.

Remember that online 'friends' can lie and will try to convince and influence you 'to do things that you would not normally do'.

Keep online ‘mates’ online. Never meet up with any online ’friends’ without an adult you trust.

Know how to block or “unfriend” anyone who makes them feel unhappy online and report any behaviour that you feel uncomfortable with.

 

 

 

UK Safer Internet Centre – Advice for young people, parents/ carers, schools and governors. (www.saferinternet.org.uk)

NSPCC Online safety advice – In collaboration with O2, including advice, phone support and school resources and ‘net aware’, guide to social networks children and young people use. (www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/)

Childnet International – Advice for young people, parents/ carers and schools regarding internet safety. (www.childnet.com)

Internet Matters – Helping parents keep children safe online, also with information for schools. (www.internetmatters.org)

Get Safe Online – Information for parents / carers. (www.getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children/)

Thinkuknow – The education programme of CEOPS, aimed at empowering children and young people aged 5-17 to identify the risks they may face online and know where they can go for support. It has information for parents/ carers. (www.thinkuknow.co.uk)