Online Safety - Protecting your child
Why is Online Safety important?
Here at Mary Exton we take every aspect of childrens' safety very seriously. In the quickly evolving world of technology and social media, online safety has never been more relevant.
Both the school and parents/guardians need to ensure all is done to make technology an enjoyable, but safe, resource for learning and playing.
How does the school cover online safety?
Quite often, the first experience the children get with many technologies is at school; it is therefore important they are taught how to use them correctly and safely. As a school, it is our duty to teach children about Online Safety discreetly in computing lessons (taught using the Herts for Learning Scheme), assemblies and also through themed days.
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What can I do at home?
Below are some links that parents/guardians can access to guide you through safely using the internet, and how to ensure the children can do the same.
Websites for Children Website for Adults
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7 www.internetmatters.org
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10 www.childnet-int.org
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe www.thinkuknow.co.uk
www.kidsmart.org.uk www.kidsmart.org.uk
There is also additional information and advice about supporting young people can be found by clicking below on the titles of the below leaflets. These are provided by Childnet International.
Keeping young children safe online
Supporting young people online
Copies of the above leaflets are found below in additional languages.
The CEOP – Children Exploitation and Online Protection – website is a direct link to the police if something online needs to be reported. The CEOP symbol can be found on many websites and can be clicked to follow the link.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Cyber-bullying
Cyber bullying (also called 'online bullying') is when a person or a group of people uses the internet, email, online games or any other kind of digital technology to threaten, tease, upset or humiliate someone else.
It is anticipated that the majority of children will experience this at some point in their lives and mainly when a teenager. The following book to share with younger children has been provided by childnet.
Digiduck's Big Decision e-book
If you feel your child is a victim of cyber bullying or another form of bullying please get in touch with school as soon as possible and we will be more than happy to discuss this and work to find a solution. 01462 456997
Children who require further advice and do not have a trusted adult can access the childline page.