Keeping Children Safe Online

Keeping Children Safe Online

Being online is an integral part of children and young people’s lives. Social media, online games, websites and apps can be accessed through mobile phones, computers, laptops and tablets – all of which form a part of children and young people’s online world.

The internet and online technology provides new opportunities for young people’s learning and growth, but it can also expose them to new types of risks.

E-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Bishops Waltham Infant School. Online safety is viewed as part of our school’s statutory safeguarding responsibilities.  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. E-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work together to ensure the e-Safety message is consistent. Your help is needed to talk to your children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online. Children can accidently or deliberately be exposed to unwanted or unpleasant content or comments online and there are steps you can take at home to minimise this risk.

Setting Rules

Talk to your child and ask them to show or even teach you how they use the internet and learn which websites or tools they like to use and why. Learning together can often open opportunities to discuss safe behaviour with your child.

Discuss with your children how the internet/digital devices will be used in your home, for example, when it can be used, where, who by and how often. Stick to your rules like you would any other rules. Make sure you know what your child is doing online just like you would offline.

Make sure your child knows to tell an adult they trust if they see something online that makes them feel scared, worried or uncomfortable.

Online Safety

Install antivirus software, secure your internet connection and use Parental Control functions on your devices to block unsuitable content or contact. Remember that parental control tools are not always 100% effective and sometimes unsuitable content can get past – don’t rely solely on them! Young children should be monitored by an adult when using devices or the internet. It’s a good idea to locate your computer/tablets/phones/games consoles in a supervised family area. Always supervise the use of webcams and applications which allow voice or video chat.

Be realistic!

It’s essential to be realistic - banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem or open up to you. Education around safe use is essential. Talking to your child is the best way to help keep them safe. But with things changing all the time, it can be hard to keep up to date. You can always call NSPCC's online safety helpline on 0808 8005002 to get advice on anything from the latest social networks to parental controls.