E-Safety for Parents and Carers

In this growing digital age, children are becoming increasingly familiar with a range of popular online platforms and with access to multiple technology such as mobile phones or games consoles.  We see the results of these trends at school and have spent time in the past educating  KS2 children  in an effort to help keep everyone safe and to raise awareness of certain apps and their appropriate use.  As these trends grow, it can often become a challenge to keep on top of things and to stay up-to-date with latest advice and guidance, with this in mind we thought it might be helpful to share the information that we were able to use in the hope that it might also be helpful at home.

There are many charities and organisations which offer the latest information including helpful user guides to many online platforms.  We can share a link from the BBC in relation to setting up parental controls after some concerning behaviour relating to Tik Tok usage, you can find the link HERE.  We also recently discovered National Online Safety who have a really useful website including training for parents/carers endorsed by celebrities, regular information and great resources such as a series of posters.  We’d recommend visiting their website and social media pages which are regularly updated.

In this day and age, children are increasingly vulnerable to online risk-taking, through their home computers, phones, tablets and gaming systems.

Since it can be difficult for us to 'keep up' with the newest forms of technology as it advances so rapidly, it is clear that we continue to take responsibility for keeping the children in our care as safe as possible online. 

Ensuring that privacy settings on any device are always as robust as possible, is an initial step towards this.

In addition, reiterating the very simple S.M.A.R.T. advice below, along with family discussions about the up-to-date information delivered in assemblies, lessons and conversations with trusted adults is vital. 

We have selected links to some expert sites below that provide excellent advice and information for you to access:

 

 

 

 Safe:

Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you’re chatting or posting online. Personal information includes your email address, phone number and password.

 

 Meet: 

Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents’ or carers’ permission and even then only when they can be present. Remember online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.

 

 Accepting: 

Accepting emails, IM messages, or opening files, images or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!

 

 Reliable: 

Someone online might lie about who they are and information on the internet may not be true. Always check information by looking at other websites, in books, or with someone who knows. If you like chatting online it’s best to only chat to your real world friends and family.

 

 Tell: 

Tell a parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone, or something, makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online.