Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Otley and Witnesham Primary Schools. We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any e-safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our e-safety policy. Online Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.
We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work together with parents to ensure the online safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.
It’s essential to be realistic - banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.
We realise that knowing how to keep your children safe on-line at home can appear daunting, so we do our best to provide information for parents as well as for the children:
Please find below a copy of our Online Safety workshop to find out more about supporting your child to keep safe online.
Visit the sites below for useful information about how to keep safe online:
UK Safer Internet Centre
The UK safer Internet Centre site is full of useful information about keeping yourself and your family safe online.
They update their information frequently, keeping up to date with ever evolving apps and crazes.They have recently published information on using the Pokemon Go app and on keeping safe in the summer holidays. The site also includes useful information about using social media safely.
Click the links below to visit the relevant pages:
Pokemon Go – Advice for parents
Staying Safe Online During the Summer
Facebook Checklist
Instagram Checklist Roblox - A Guide for Parents
Snapchat Checklist
Twitter Checklist
Get Safe Online
It seems that online crime is in the news almost every day and criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated. Criminals are very clever and anyone can become a victim. Get Safe online is a website for adults containing lots of information about how to avoid online crime when using the internet and how to keep yourself and your family safe. It also contains details of current scams and how to avoid them and is well worth visiting on a regular basis.
Internet Matters
Internet Matters is a not-for-profit organisation working with online safety experts to bring you all the information you need to keep your children safe online. The site includes advice on important e-safety issues; news and advice from industry experts; guidance on setting parental controls and filters on a wide range of devices; reviews of the latest technology and apps
NCPCC Net Aware
The NSPCC has recently launched their Net aware site. It is a well designed site that is easy to navigate and gives parents up to date information about social network sites their child may be using. You can also register to ensure you receive information as soon as it is published.
Vodafone Digital Parenting
Vodafone have developed an excellent website called Digital Parenting that contains lots of advice about keeping children safe on line. It includes instructions for setting up parental controls on a wide variety of devices (under the ‘How To’ tab) and a wealth of information about keeping safe online for all generations. It is well worth checking out!
Parent Info
Parent Info is collaboration between CEOP and Parent Zone and provides information to parents and carers about their children’s wellbeing and resilience, internet safety and a wide range of other topic matters like sex, relationships and body image.
Think U Know Website
The ThinkuKnow website is run by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and includes advice and information for parents, carers and children. CEOP’s Thinkuknow for parents and carers page includes separate sections for primary and secondary aged children, a video explaining internet safety for parents and plugins to make your browser safer.
Kidsmart Website
The KidSMART parents’ page contains advice and activities to help keep your children safe online.
Parentzone
The Parentzone website contains a wealth of information about e-Safety that is frequently updated.
Cyber-Bullying
Cyberbullying can be devastating for children as it can be difficult to escape from. Children should be encouraged to discuss their problems with an adult. One of the most common reasons they do not do this is that they fear their phone or computer/ tablet will be taken away from them, so it is important that you let your child know this will not happen and that they can talk to you about any problems they have.
The Childline website contains helpful information about cyberbullying and ways to help stop it that you can discuss with your child. The government have also produced a useful leaflet on cyberbullying.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is committed to improving the lives of all children and families by providing the trustworthy information and education, they need to thrive in the 21st century. It provides parents and educators with trusted ratings of movies, tv shows, games and apps. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/