Online Safety

Our three main aims of Online Safety in school:

Empower – we want to empower our children to keep themselves safe online

Encourage – we want to encourage our children to be responsible online

Engage – we want to engage with our children so they understand the risks, and also the benefits, of online communication

At Neston, we regularly talk to the children in Key Stage assemblies about staying safe on the internet using age-appropriate stories and video.  As a school we recognise Safer Internet Day and teach the children about Online Safety through circle times and PSHE lessons. 

At home there are lots of simple things you can do as a parent/ carer to ensure that you feel confident about your child’s interaction with technology, and set achievable goals that work for your family.  These four top tips from Childnet International make a great starting point:

1. Use digital devices together

Get involved in your child’s online activities. Have fun, play games and learn together online, just as you would in the physical world. It will then be natural for your child to turn to you if they experience anything upsetting online.

2. Set clear expectations

Clear family rules can help your child have a positive start to their digital life and get the most out of being online. Ask your child to help create some family rules.

3. Be informed

Many digital devices, services and content providers offer a range of parental controls. You can choose the type of content and options that are suitable for your child. 

4. Establish good habits early on

Both adults and children enjoy sharing moments with family and friends through online images and videos. Starting conversations and good habits early on is a great way to support children in staying safe online.

Policy

You can find our Online Safety policy in the Key Info section of our website.

Useful Websites for Parents and Pupils

The NSPCC website has a whole host of useful tools and advice for parents on how to keep your children safe on the internet. 

• find out about the safety of the games, sites and apps that your children use online

• whether you want to set up parental controls, adjust privacy settings or get advice on social networks, experts from the free O2 & NSPCC helpline are available to help on a dedicated Freephone number

• advice on talking to your kids about online safety

• tips on how to keep your children safe when using internet-connected devices

• learn about video chat, streaming and sharing apps

• guides to games such as Minecraft and Pokémon Go

• a fun Parents vs Kids quiz - who knows more about the internet!

  
  
  

Clicking on the logos below will open a new browser tab and take you directly to these other useful websites 

CBBC Stay Safe is primarily aimed at children, providing videos and advice.

Think U Know is the official website of the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) arm of the NCA (National Crime Agency) and is fantastic for both parents and children, covering a whole range of topics.

Childnet have a dedicated parents and carers section with information, advice and resources. For parents, they also recommended the information found at the UK Safer Internet Centre website.

Internet Matters is a not-for-profit organisation working with online safety experts to bring you all the information you need to keep your children safe online.

• Advice on important internet safety issues

• News and advice from industry experts

• Guidance on setting parental controls and filters

• Reviews on the latest technology and apps

Common Sense is an American organisation dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology.  They empower parents, teachers, and policymakers by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools to help them harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all children’s lives.

Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. They offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.  Their Parent Concerns and Parent Blog help families understand and navigate the problems and possibilities of raising children in the digital age.

Broadband Provider Parental Controls

Online activity can be monitored via your broadband provider to ensure that your child stays safe on the internet. GoCompare have compiled a guide to broadband parental controls and internet safety for children. Please follow the link GoCompare

E-Safety Digital Magazine

"E-safety should never be a barrier to innovative use of technology in school"

We have signed up to a digital magazine, #DITTO written by Alan Mackenzie. You can read more about Alan's vast experience on his website here

These older editions have some excellent articles and are worth reading too:

Edition 10 - What is appropriate? / What is the internet?

Edition 9 - Sleep deprivation/General advice and guidance

Edition 8 - 18 Rated games/ Social networks