E-Safety / Online

Technology is changing the world around us and offers our children limitless possibilities. 

As our children's first educators we want to work in partnership with our parents and carers to teach children how to use new technologies safely and responsibly both at school and at home. 

Please encourage your child to tell you if they feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by anything they see online.  Check content is age appropriate, we recommend going online with your children and becoming part of their online life - the key to safe use of the internet is good communication. 

Creating a family agreement

A family agreement is a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet. As you have everyone at home, it’s a fantastic way to set boundaries and discuss how you are all going to use technology during this time. Where is tech going to be used in your home? How are you going to share it and what times of the day can different family members have access? It's also a great way to discuss how to behave online and talk about what happens if something upsets or worries your child. 

We would like to highlight several areas that you, as parents/guardians, should be aware of: 

Online safety guide 

When it comes to using ICT, the free government website Internet matters.org has some excellent resources. The following page has a comprehensive guide to keeping children safe on the internet. 

Online Safety Guide 6-10 Year olds

Safe filtering and controlling access

One of the first ways to ensure your child is safe when using the internet is to ensure your safety settings/filtering are being used. Here is a comprehensive list of step-by-step instructions for the majority of web-capable devices. 

Parental Controls

Screen time

Whilst the usage of computers and tablets has obvious advantages, the amount of time spent on screens needs to be balanced.

Age rating on apps and games

Lastly when allowing your child to use electronic, consideration for the age ratings should be adhered to. Any app that allows user created content is less regulated and therefore is not content controlled. Further information on age rating of apps can be found here. 

How are age ratings apps and games rated

Getting advice and guidance if something goes wrong 

As young people spend more time online, there is also an increase in the chances they will see something online which isn't intended for them. Whether this is fake news, impersonation, or mean comments, there are lots of places you can go to for help and advice on how to report this behaviour. Together, as a family, you can also help prepare your children and build their critical thinking skills. 

Making a report 

reportharmfulcontent.com is a website designed to help you report anything which you believe shouldn't be online. There’s guidance about how to report different types of content as well as help with the next steps you can take if your report isn't actioned by the site or service you have made it on. 

Speaking to someone 

For young people - depending on the age of your child, there is a range of places they can go to for help. For younger children, they can call Childline for help and support, and for older children, The Mix offers free and practical advice. 

For parents and carers - The O2 and NSPCC helpline can help you with any questions or concerns you may have about keeping your child safe online. They can provide you with advice and help to troubleshoot any problems your family may be facing.