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Online Safety

We believe that the world of the internet offers unprecedented opportunities for our young learners. However, we also know that it introduces new potential dangers and complications. We believe it is the responsibility of schools, working with parents/carers and the wider community, to help give our children the knowledge and skills they need to access this exciting world safely and responsibly.

We address online safety specifically through our PSHE (personal, social & health education) and computing curriculums. We also reinforce our key messages throughout children’s time at school when children are using devices – such as our large number of iPads. In addition, we provide regular updates for parents through our weekly newsletter whenever we are made aware of a new website/app/online fad that we believe could pose a potential concern.

Online Safety in Early Years and KS1

In early years foundation stages (EYFS), year 1 and year 2, it is crucial that the online safety message is pitched at a level that children can understand so they are clear about how they can keep themselves safe online. We use Childnet's 'Smartie the Penguin' to help make this message clear. 

We would always advise parents to utilise appropriate filters on devices at home (all the major internet providers now provide this function as standard) and ensure children are supervised at all times as even the best filters aren't fool proof. The same thing that makes the internet incredible for learning - access to unlimited knowledge - also makes it potentially very dangerous and harmful for children. For this reason children should not have devices with access to the internet in their bedrooms - a space that is by its nature sometimes unsupervised for extended periods of time. You can find links below with further advice - if you are unsure please feel free to ask the advice of your child's class teacher.

Smartie The Penguin

Online Safety in KS2

In years 3, 4, 5 & 6 we use Childnet's 'Smart' rules. 

As children get older they naturally take greater exception to being supervised on the internet. However, we would still always advise parents to utilise appropriate filters on devices at home (all the major internet providers now provide this function as standard) and ensure children are supervised at all times as even the best filters aren't fool proof. The same thing that makes the internet incredible for learning - access to unlimited knowledge - also makes it potentially very dangerous and harmful for children. For this reason children should not have devices with access to the internet in their bedrooms - a space that is by its nature sometimes unsupervised for extended periods of time. You can find links below with further advice - if you are unsure please feel free to ask the advice of your child's class teacher. 

All the major providers of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc are clear that primary school age children are not permitted to use them. We would urge parents to ensure their children are not using these sites - in our experience they can contribute to stress, anxiety, bullying as well as being adult dominated worlds that are simply unsuitable for young children. 

Be Smart Online