Parents Guide to Online Safety

Staying Safe Online 

At Kingfisher School, we are committed to ensuring our pupils are safe in school and online.

Whilst the Internet is a fun and exciting place to interact with family and friends it can also pose a danger to any person of any age.  For this reason, it is important to ensure that we use all the tools available to us to protect ourselves and the children we care for, both in school and at home.

Online spaces, games and media form a large part of life for young people growing up today. It offers a platform to connect with others and to learn.  If you understand the situations they may encounter you’ll be better placed to offer them advice on how to deal with any problems that may arise.

Please click here for support from SWGfL (South West Grid for Learning) and CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command)

Children can come across countless dangers online and the only way to be safe is to ensure you are aware of what they may come across and how to prevent and protect them. Those who care for children have a responsibility to protect and safeguard children in relation to the Internet as well as make informed choices as to what they can and can't access.

Steps to help keep your child safe at home

Many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to support you in providing safe access to the Internet.  Parents/carers are advised to set security levels within Internet Browsers, you can find out more information how to do this here How to Set Parental Controls On All Your Devices

What you can do at home to help keep your child safe

• Ensure tablets/phones are used in a public space (not a bedroom)
• Take an interest in what they are doing, ask them to share with you some of the 'exciting' things they are up to
• Remember that some pupils will always be one step ahead of you with new ways to interact with others online
• Friend request or follow your child on Social Media (this does not ensure that you can see everything they post, they can 'hide' certain media items from individuals or groups of people)

Social Network sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and gaming sites all have the facility to chat to friends.  Although this is generally a positive experience, unfortunately cyberbullying can take place online amongst all age groups.  We must empower our children to step away when they feel uncomfortable or intimidated and encourage them to report it to an adult.

Young people, through their devices, can access a range of apps where they can access the wider world.  Please see below links to find out more about privacy settings, which will help keep your child safe online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Support for children:
  • Childline for free and confidential advice
  • UK Safer Internet Centre to report and remove harmful online content
  • CEOP for advice on making a report about online abuse