Online Safety
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As a school, we have established clear roles, responsibilities, and strategies to ensure the effectiveness of our filtering and monitoring systems when it comes to the use of technology. Our DSL, School Business Manager, and IT provider - Foresight - review these systems annually. Although we use Smoothwall to monitor all our devices, we understand that no system is 100% effective. To ensure that our pupils' safety is maintained, we conduct regular training for our staff on supervising children using devices and integrate online safety into our PSHE curriculum and safeguarding policies.
Online Safety Information for Parents
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
The above web link includes advice for parents on online safety, for example protecting children when they use online games, instructions on how to make internet connected toys and devices safe for your child, setting parental controls and a guide to the latest social apps, networks and games.
You can get free support on the phone by calling the NSPCC Online Safety Helpline for parents on 0808 800 5002
The following websites also have support and advice for parents, families and children:
To report harmful content: https://reportharmfulcontent.com/
To report online abuse: https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Information about social networks, apps and games: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
Advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online:
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers
https://www.internetmatters.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIktuA5LWK2wIVRYXVCh2afg2aEAAYASAAEgIJ5vD_BwE
https://www.lgfl.net/online-safety/default.aspx
Advice for parents working from home or supporting children with home learning: https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/what-you-need-to-know-professionals-and-parents/
Information on video conferencing technology for children: https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/safe-remote-learning/video-conferencing-for-kids-safeguarding-and-privacy-overview/
If you are a professional you can access further support from the UK Safer Internet Centre Online Safety Helpline: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/helpline/professionals-online-safety-helpline
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ Child exploitation & Online Protection – to build knowledge of how to stay safe online. This website has lots of fun activities from which children can gain vital information on staying safe.
Keeping Children Safe in a Digital World
At Kingsway, the safety of our children is of upmost importance. This includes keeping them safe when using electronic equipment and more specifically when entering the online world. E-Safety encompasses internet technologies and also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. By educating our children in e-safety we aim to highlight the need for children and young people to think practically about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.
- We operate an open-door policy for reporting issues relating to e-safety and very much welcome parents and carers to come into school to speak with a member of staff about any perceived problems.
- For additional support and information, please see the links below to useful information regarding sites that your children may use
- Parents and Carers can visit the Childnet — Online safety for young people website for support and advice for safe use of the internet at home.
Children can visit the Looking for Kidsmart? | Childnet website to learn how to use the internet safely at home.
Online safety is a crucial part of safeguarding at Kingsway and is taught explicitly and progressively.
We advise parents to follow these top tips for ensuring your child safety when using the internet:
- Talk to your child about what they’re up to online. Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest. Find out what sites they visit and what they love about them, if they know you understand they are more likely to come to you if they have any problems.
- Watch Thinkuknow films and cartoons with your child. The Thinkuknow site has films, games and advice for children from five all the way to 16.
- Encourage your child to go online and explore! There is a wealth of age-appropriate sites online for your children. Encourage them to use sites which are fun, educational and that will help them to develop online skills.
- Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Children grow up fast and they will be growing in confidence and learning new skills daily. It’s important that as your child learns more, so do you.
- Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world. Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to discuss boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online.
- Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space. For children of this age, it is important to keep internet use in family areas so you can see the sites your child is using and be there for them if they stumble across something they don’t want to see.
- Know what connects to the internet and how. Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Make sure you’re aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it your connection, or a neighbour’s wifi? This will affect whether the safety setting you set are being applied.
- Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones. Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start and they are not as difficult to install as you might think. Service providers are working hard to make them simple, effective and user friendly. Find your service provider and learn how to set your controls
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Online safety in the curriculum
Online safety is taught through:
- the computing curriculum
- PSHE and assemblies
- class discussions and scenarios
Children learn about:
- safe and responsible internet use
- privacy and personal information
- online relationships and communication
- recognising unsafe or worrying content
- how to ask for help online and offline
This teaching is age‑appropriate and revisited regularly.
Supporting parents with online safety
We know children’s online lives extend beyond school.
We support parents through:
- clear guidance
- signposting to trusted resources
- shared language between home and school
Parent workshops and training
Mrs Jones (Deputy DSL & Computing Lead) runs annual online safety workshops for parents, supporting families to:
- understand risks and trends
- set boundaries and controls
- talk openly with children about online use
- respond calmly to concerns