At St Hild's, we feel that the internet is a vital tool that helps us in all aspects of our lives in modern society. We provide children throughout school with a range of opportunities to access the internet in many areas of the curriculum. Unfortunately, the internet is not always a safe place for children and E Safety is an essential aspect of our PSHCE and Computing Curriculum in all classes.

E Safety at school

 

At school, we take several steps to ensure that children are kept safe while using the internet and electronic communication.

We use targeted filtering to prevent access to websites that are unsuitable. These are monitored and updated regularly to ensure that they are effective.

Children in all classes use the internet across the curriculum and we ensure that internet access is supervised by adults at all times. The websites that are accessed are monitored to ensure they are suitable for Primary School children.

Children are taught how to use technology safely so they know the dangers and understand how to keep themselves safe.

We send home copies of the Digital Parenting Magazine. An online version of the latest copy of the magazine can be found by clicking on this link. http://vodafonedigitalparenting.co.uk/ 

 

E Safety at home

 

Many children in school talk about their experiences using the internet at home, for example, many children are using Mathletics and Bug Club at home to reinforce the work they have completed in school.  The internet is a powerful tool and safety, privacy, online predators or grooming or cyberbullying are complex and are difficult for parents and families to keep up with. To help, we have put together a list of useful websites to provide parents and other family members with up to date information.

 

The NSPCC have provided some useful information which can be found here:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Useful e-safety Websites

Internet Filtering

 

All of the internet providers can enable internet filtering to help you to protect your children from unsuitable websites. The safer internet link below provides information about filtering your home internet connection.

http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parental-controls

If children are accessing the internet using mobile phones or other mobile devices, this may not be covered by filtering on your home network. Please check regularly that the correct privacy settings are enabled on mobile and smart devices.

 

Social Media

 

We would like to remind parents that the minimum age to open an account on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest, Tumblr, Skype and Snapchat is 13 years old. Whilst parents may choose to allow younger children to use these services, we cannot recommend this and as a school, we must follow Safeguarding policy to maintain the wellbeing and safety of our children. 

Further information is available on the NSPP Net Aware website.

http://www.net-aware.org.uk/

 

You Tube

 

Video blogging is becoming increasingly popular and many children spend lots of time watching these vlogs. In school, we acknowledge that You Tube is a valuable teaching and learning resource, however have restricted access to You Tube on our network. 

As the popularity of vlogging increases, the number of cases of children copying these vloggers is increasing and children are risking the possibility of leaving themselves open to online bullying or grooming by revealing personal details, making videos and having comments available to anyone. The minimum age to create a You Tube account is 13 and it is not possible to upload videos to You Tube without an account. 

You Tube have produced additional help and information for parents:

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802272?hl=en-GB&ref_topic=2803240

http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safety-tools/youtube 

 

Computers

 

There are several ways to keep your children safe on your home PC or laptop.

Windows offers parental control systems that allow you to block or control what your children can see.

 

Windows 8

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/family-safety

Windows 10

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/set-up-family

 

Apple have also produced information for IPads and IMacs

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21683

 

Games Consoles

Games consoles are another way to access the internet. The following links provide additional information to help you to keep your children safe when they are using these devices.

 

X Box

http://support.xbox.com/en-gb/pages/xbox-live/how-to/parental-control.aspx

PS3

http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/basicoperations/parentallock.html

PS4

https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/get-help/help-library/my-account/parental-controls/parental-controls-on-playstation-4/

Gaming devices

http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parents-guide-to-technology/gaming-devices

 

Smartphones, Mobile phones and Tablets

 

Most mobile phones and smartphones now connect to the internet. The filtering on your home computer network may not be covered on mobile devices. The following links provide further information about the potential dangers of mobile devices

 

ThinkUKnow Mobiles  

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/control/mobile/

Safer Internet Smartphones

http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parents-guide-to-technology/smartphones

 

Your mobile phone network will also provide information to help you to filter unwanted content. This option is usually switched off and you will need to contact your provider to enable this on your phone.

 

Safer Internet tablets

http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parents-guide-to-technology/internet-enabled-devices

Android Parental controls

https://www.internetsafetyproject.org/wiki/parental-controls-android