INTRODUCTION

Online Safety for children has never been so important.  At Shinewater Primary School we constantly review and evolve our internet safety procedures to ensure our pupils are not only protected from the dangers of the Internet and World Wide Web but are also fully informed and educated on how best to deal with online threats and concerns. Online Safety is taught to all pupils explaining  and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online. 

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Being educated about Internet Safety is an essential life skill. Providing children with the knowledge to protect themselves and their personal information is a key focus throughout our pupils’ digital learning. 

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THE OPEN, YET SAFE, ENVIRONMENT

We have utilised the safety benefits of Google's G-Suite by providing all our pupils with their own enhanced Google account; with the significant dividend of being able to maintain administration rights, oversee safety filters and access or block specific websites.  Pupils can create and manage their own bookmarks, web apps and page personalisation but within an environment that is designed with age appropriateness in mind.  Our dedication to high quality Online Safety provision has led to us gaining the nationally recognised 360 Online E-Safety Accreditation.

 

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ONLINE SAFETY IN THE HOME

Having an e-safe environment is not as daunting as it may seem. Although the opportunities for connecting with others using technology is vast, and growing all the time, parents, carers and other responsible adults can make the environment safe. We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work 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.

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INTERNET SAFETY IN THE CURRICULUM

To ensure purposeful teaching and learning, our Computing Curriculum dedicates a whole term to internet safety, differentiated to the needs of the child.  Pupils are encouraged to discuss their own concerns and an ‘Internet Safety Box,’ located in our Computing Suite, is available and used to promote child led, child-centred teaching and learning.  Additionally, to maintain the high profile and importance of internet safety, the International ‘Safer Internet Day’ is embraced and celebrated, along with whole school assemblies.

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While we feel that the use of technology is a largely positive aspect of modern life, we cannot ignore the risks that can be associated.

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Throughout school we aim to teach children:

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• about the impact of cyber-bullying and what to do if they have been affected.

• to be vigilant when communicating online recognising that people may not always be who they say they are and to be sensible about what they share.

• to tell an adult they trust if something is upsetting them.

• to question the reliability of information given through a web based source.

• to search responsibly for information while using internet browsers.

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We understand that much of our pupil's use of the internet will occur at home, away from the school filters. Below are a list of useful websites, advice and resources that you may find helpful when navigating the issue of online safety with your child.