Online Safety
Why do we like the internet?
- It is interesting and fun.
- We can learn a lot from the internet.
- We use it for our school work.
- We love to use it for our learning, including using websites like Purple Mash and Times Table Rockstars.
Online Safety is about protecting children in the digital world and ensuring they feel safe when accessing new technology. It is a vital life skill and one we take very seriously so the children grow up using technology appropriately and safely.
Children’s use of the internet is becoming more mobile and interactive offering young people more opportunities to interact and meet new people, so it’s never been more important to make sure you are helping your child stay safe in the digital world.
At St Barnabas we want to celebrate the benefits of technology and educate the children to be safe in its use. Online Safety is a vital element of safeguarding children and young people. It also emphasises the importance and use of new technologies in a positive way as well as encouraging young people to develop safer online behaviours. Internet safety is addressed throughout the year through our Computing and PSHE curriculum and whenever technology is used in our learning.
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:
Online Safety Assemblies
Here is some information about our fortnightly Online Safety assemblies. During these assemblies we share important information about keeping ourselves safe online and what to do if we ever feel unsafe or have a question or query about something we have seen online.
How does St Barnabas School keep children safe when they use the internet at school?
- The adults are always aware of which websites we are on, and monitor this to make sure that we are safe.
- The adults explain to use how to use the internet safely using SMART and other resources.
- Our school network filters our search results so that everything we see is safe for us.
If children have a problem when they are online, what should they do?
- Keep calm and tell an adult straight away.
- Stay on the page until they have shown an adult so that they can see what has made us feel worried or upset.
- Block and report anyone that is being unkind.
- Keep messages from others if they are being unkind so that they can be shown to an adult who can help solve the situation.
What are the dangers of children using the internet?
- We could see or hear things that are not suitable for us.
- People on the internet are not always who they say that they are, and they may be someone else.
- People could ask you for personal information about yourself, which is dangerous.
- Not everybody on the internet is kind.
- There are things on the internet which are not appropriate for us.
St Barnabas' online safety rules are:
- We ask permission before we use the internet and we only use website that an adult has agreed for us to use.
- We must keep our passwords to ourselves.
- We must keep our personal information to ourselves at all times online.
- We must tell a grown up if we see or hear anything that makes us upset or worried.
- We must never look for, save or send, anything that could be unkind or upsetting for others.
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.
- If you're worried about something a child or young person may have experienced online, you can contact the NSPCC helpline for free support and advice or call them on 0808 800 5000
Parental Support
Many parents feel in the dark when it comes to their children’s internet safety and trust schools to help them get up to speed.
There are lots of easy ways that you can encourage parents to discover the information they need. We’ve provided some downloadable materials to help you. There are also resources available to help them find more engaging ways to get children talking about e-safety.