Online Safety Policy
Staying Safe Online at Home
Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems and tools to help you safeguard your child at home, it remains incredibly easy for children to access inappropriate material including unsuitable text, pictures and movies.
Top Tips for Keeping Safe Online
1) Set security levels within Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or other browsers to the highest level on devices accessed by your children.
2) Locate your computer/laptop/games console in a family area where possible, not a bedroom. This will enable you to supervise your children as they use the Internet.
3) Consider mobile phones, games consoles and other devices that can access the internet and ensure that these have the same level of security imposed.
Please don’t deny your children the opportunity to learn from and enjoy the wide variety of material and games available on the Internet but instead discuss with them some simple rules for keeping safe online, making sure they understand their importance.
Staying Safe Online Links
Follow the links below for further information and support on how to stay safe online.
Apps & Games
Top Tips for Staying Safe on Online Apps and Games:
1. Always check the age ratings before downloading.
2. Explore new apps/games together before allowing your child to access independently.
3. Let your child know they can talk to you - have regular and open conversations about your child's online world, the risks and the benefits.
Staying Safe Online at School
We apply strong firewalls, filtering and monitoring systems in school to protect our children from inappropriate content, however we also realise the importance of teaching our children what to do when things go wrong.
Every computer in school has a 'big red button' which children can use if they see any content that they do not like.
They press this button on their screen and the screen is instantly covered over with a positive 'you did the right thing' message. The child will then let their adult know the button has been pressed and they can deal with the offending content without the child seeing it again.
If your child uses electronic technology at home, please reiterate the same message. If they don't like something or are worried about what they see on their screen, they must tell you as soon as it happens. Minimising the screen, closing the laptop, turning over the tablet or iPad all amounts to the same result as our 'big red button'.