Online Safety

What is Online Safety and why is it important?

Online Safety is the school's ability:

• to protect and educate pupils in their use of technology
• to have the appropriate mechanisms to intervene and support any incident where appropriate

Online Safety encompasses not only Internet technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It highlights the need to educate children and young people about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.

• Online Safety concerns safeguarding children and young people in the digital world.

• Online Safety emphasises learning to understand and use new technologies in a positive way.

• Online Safety is less about restriction and more about education about the risks as well as the benefits so we can feel confident online.

• Online Safety is concerned with supporting children and young people to develop safer online behaviours both in and out of school.

When our local PCSO visited our school they gave an e-safety talk to children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Please find below some information she gave us which parents may find useful.

Information for parents

Below is a useful information leaflet on e-safety for parents and carers of primary school children, as taken from the KCC website.

All the children in the school took part in making posters to demonstrate their e-safety knowledge, which was part of the CARE Foundation Computing Hub competition. Ten schools were invited to take part, and we had the winning posters in three of the year groups. Well done to all the children, especially the following year group winners within Smeeth:

Reception - Evie (CARE Foundation Winner)

Year 1 - Ryan

Year 2 - Neve (CARE Foundation Winner)

Year 3 - Josie (CARE Foundation Winner)

Year 4 - Sasha

Year 5 - Genna

Year 6 - Emily

Always be careful when you are using the internet. It can help you to keep in touch with your friends and help your education – but it can also cause harm – to you and to others.

Remember help is always available at school if you are having any problems online.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your teacher or another adult at school.

If you or anyone you know is worried about Child Exploitation, Online Protection or anything related to Internet safety please click the link below which will take you to the CEOP reporting website:

Tips for staying safe online:

· Make sure you keep new online friends strictly online. If someone you don't know asks to be your online friend you must ensure an adult knows about it.

· Know how to use the CEOP Button and how to report it to the CEOP Centre if you are concerned about someone’s online behaviour towards you.