E-safety is a very important issue, with most of us having access to electronic devices and the internet. It is important that we empower children to behave safely and knowledgeably when we access the internet from these devices.

E-safety is an important part of our Computing curriculum and the key messages are reinforced regularly.

The delivery of our School Values also further embed understanding of respectful relationships which apply to both face-to-face and online relationships.

Key messages about e-safety are regularly delivered when the children are accessing technology in school. We also have posters around school reminding us of how we can stay safe when using technologies both at school and in the home. Furthermore, we sing our whole school e-safety song to help us to remember how to keep safe online.  

Parents as partners is an integral tool in delivering key messages to children about online safety and using devices responsibly.

The links below offer fantastic advice and resources for parents to reinforce these messages at home too: 

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

https://parentinfo.org/

https://parentzone.org.uk/

To learn more about the games and apps your children are using, the following website offers advice and reviews about their suitability, including advice and reviews from other parents. 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

If you would like any support or advice on setting up parental control on your devices, the NSPCC and o2 have teamed up to support parents with this. Please visit http://www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc

For a child friendly search engine, try www.swiggle.org.uk It is a safe and secure search engine created by SWGfL. 

TEACHING ONLINE SAFETY IN  SCHOOLS - DfE GUIDANCE (JUNE 2019 onwards)

The DFE have published guidance on how to ensure we embed teaching online safety within a whole school approach. We aim to equip our pupils with the knowledge needed to make the best use of the internet and technology in a safe and respectful way, whilst having an awareness of the risks associated with online use. We will continue to teach what positive, healthy and respectful relationships look like both online and offline, making links with our School Values. We will also continue to deliver awareness of the effects of our online actions and know how to recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. This underpins our regular reinforcement of where to go for help and support when children have concerns about content or contact. 

For further information on the updated guidance, please follow the link below:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/811796/Teaching_online_safety_in_school.pdf

Useful links

SNAPCHAT MAPS 

MUSICAL.LY

Channel 4 News reported on children as young as nine being groomed and bombarded with sexually explicated messages on the popular social media app Musical.ly.
But what exactly is the app and what risks does it pose to young people who use it? In this Video Guide to Musical.ly you will learn about what the app does, how it leaves young people vulnerable to being groomed and how you can better protect children who use this app. Watch now at: 

https://ineqe.com/professionals-service/#recent

ROBLOX

The following website offers advice to parents on how help young people stay safe whilst gaming on Roblox:

http://www.childnet.com/blog/roblox-a-guide-for-parents