Children have the right to enjoy childhood online, to access safe online spaces, and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring to them, appropriate to their age and stage. As they grow older, it is crucial that they learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with a critical awareness of their own and other’s online behaviour and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online.

“Growing up has never been easy, but today the virtual world presents a whole set of new risks.  Young people live in an always-on, social, digital and connected world, and it’s the only world they’ve ever known.  While the internet brings amazing opportunities for young people to learn, create and socialise, it is our duty to help them navigate this online world safely. Young people must recognise that every click, every post, every purchase and every photo we upload leaves a digital footprint.”

UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security

Online safety is an important part of keeping children safe at our school. 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 online safety incidents are recorded and managed and online safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

At Tyntesfield, we are totally committed to safeguarding children and to a culture of vigilance. Online Safety is a core aspect of our work, not an ‘add on’ and an important part of keeping children safe. Our Online Safety Framework in partnership with our Computing curriculum enables pupils to develop into successful, safe and responsible participants in our ever-changing digital world.

Together, at home and at school, we can empower our children to access the digital world creatively, critically, knowledgeably and safely, with a mindful approach to the impact of screen time, gaming and social media on wellbeing and mental health.  

Online Safety at Tyntesfield Primary School is overseen by Helen Johnson, our Safeguarding Governor and Kerry Cleary our Safeguarding Trustee. It is also annually audited by an external safeguarding consultant.

Online Safety Curriculum

Online Safety is taught continually and integrally to all pupils throughout school. Our Online Safety Curriculum Framework aims to equip children with the skills, knowledge and values they will need as they grow up and enter an ever-changing, increasingly digital society. Today, the importance of teaching our children from a young age to be digitally literate cannot be overstated.

In 2018, the UK government released Education For A Connected World. This curriculum framework provides guidance on supporting children and young people to navigate the digital world safely.

It specifically focuses on:

Online Safety at School

In each area, it describes the skills and understanding children and young people should have the opportunity to develop at different ages and stages.

These 8 areas of online safety fall under one of the three Computing Strands, Digital Literacy.

Most online safety concerns fall within 3 categories: Contact, Conduct and Content.

ContactThis area covers interacting with people online, particularly strangers. It is a major concern for most parents. With the world becoming ever more connected, the 24/7 availability of contact is also a growing issue. At Tyntesfield, we teach children about the types of information that can be shared, and which should be kept private; how to protect themselves from strangers; and prepare them for situations in the future which may involve talking to people they don’t know online.

ConductWe want all children to become positive digital citizens and conduct themselves online accordingly. Their online presence, or digital footprint, can stay with them for years and the consequences can be far reaching. Our curriculum helps children be the best version of themselves online by addressing issues such as: peer pressure, online dares, bullying, and ‘for the like’ culture.

ContentWith more and more ways to access the internet, encountering inappropriate content becomes more likely. Children are taught what to do if they come across material that worries or upsets them. However, at school we recognise that this area is not solely about content that can be filtered out. We strive to teach the children to become critical thinkers and question the validity of information. We recognise that as the children mature and develop beyond our school, body image and self-esteem may be affected and they may be influenced by ‘Vloggers’, ‘influencers’ and social media. We also look at how advertisements are targeted and used to manipulate people.

The 3C’s of Online Safety

At school, the children sign an Acceptable Use Policy where they agree to adhere to rules about using technology in school. We also have a filter and monitoring system in place which is monitored both internally and externally that helps protect children from dangerous or inappropriate material. Children from Year 2 upwards have individual logins to help identify misuse and promote good practice. Use of ICT equipment is always supervised.

We have a robust reporting system in school where incidents of Online Safety are followed up appropriately in accordance with policies in school. This may involve a class circle time, a year group assembly, talking to individuals or phone calls home to work with parents to support pupils.

We have a progressive, relevant curriculum in school that builds on skills taught in previous years. Assemblies that are relevant and thought provoking are completed once a half term. These are made available for parents to follow up discussions at home.

What we do as a school

We appreciate that online safety is concern for most parents and we would like to support you.

Each term, we send home a newsletter with relevant information about current Online Safety issues.

We have also launched our Twitter account dedicated to online safety. You can find us at @OnlineSafetyTPS. We tweet information about new apps, helpful articles and information relevant to our community.

We have also collated resources that you may useful and created a shared folder available here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18RcRYpG5L2HuplQ-MIovY4F8rVzzomMW?usp=sharing

As well as contacting the school via phone or email, you can also report issues using our new reporting system - Whisper. Clicking on the ‘Report an Issue’ button at the top of the page will take you to an online form where you can anonymously (if you wish) report Online Safety concerns to school. You can also report worries or concerns via text.

Supporting You

More and more pre-schoolers are using their parents’ computers, smartphones or tablets to play games, use apps, and watch their favourite TV shows. There are simple things you can do to make sure they’re using the internet safely. Follow the link below:

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/0-5/

Digiduck’s Big decision is a story has been created to help parents teach children aged 3-7 years of age how to be a good friend online. It’s a great way to start the conversation about what they should expect from the online world and how to stay safe. The story can be accessed at:

http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/teachers/ks1/sourcesduck/projet/digiduck-ebook.pdf

Early use of digital technology has been shown to improve language skills and promote children’s social development and creativity. But it’s not without risks for young children, who may come across inappropriate content or begin to copy what older children do online. Follow the link below:

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/6-10/

Pre School (0-5 Years)

Advice for Parents with children aged 6-10 years

As children between the ages of 11 and 13 make the transition to a more independent stage with the move to secondary school, they become more confident internet users with more varied habits. Internet use can be hugely positive for children, but it’s vital to continue discussing online safety with them. Follow the link below:

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/6-10/

Advice for Parents with children aged 11-13 years

Childnet is an organisation working directly with children, parents and teachers to ensure that the issues of online child protection and the safe and positive use of the internet are addressed. It has lots of useful advice for parents:  

https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers

What to do if I am concerned?

nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety – The NSPCC have teamed up with O2 to help keep children safe when they’re using the internet, social networks, apps, games and more.

www.saferinternet.org.uk – Here you will find even more e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk – The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has set up its own website which has been designed and written specifically for children, young people, teachers, parents and carers.

www.bullying.co.uk – One in five young people have experienced bullying by text message or via email. This web site gives advice for children and parents on cyberbullying.

http://parents.vodafone.com/ – Being very accessible, this provides information and guidance to parents to help under the digital world. There is also an online test to see how much you know.

www.internetmatters.org – Lots of guidance and articles for parents about keeping their children safe online.

www.digizen.org – A website designed to strengthen awareness and understanding of what digital citizenship is. It encourages users of technology to be and become responsible DIGItal citiZENS.

Other useful links