Online Safety

Here at Alfreton Park, we take Online Safety seriously and ensure that it is in integral part of our curriculum.

We understand that whilst modern technology including the use of mobile phones, tablets, computers, TVs with online access, gaming stations, etc. offers our pupils lots of learning and social opportunities it also presents an ever-evolving range of risk.

In school we have strict online filters and pupils are monitored when using the internet. Whilst in school our pupils are able to use both iPads and laptops which support our curriculum. We use Purple Mash to teach a range of skills including password safety, how to send safe emails, set up programmes, as well as spotting anything which may be a potential scam.

At home it is important that parents maintain strict parental controls on access, and they must regularly check what their child is accessing and who they are communicating with.

Parents should read the information below and use the links to ensure that you are prepared to help keep your child safe whilst online.

CEOP

The NCA’s CEOP Command is here to help children and young people. We are here to help if you are a young person and you or your friend (up to age 18) has been forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity with anyone online, or in the real world. We also have advice and links to support for other online problems young people might face, such as cyberbullying and hacking. Visit our Safety Centre for advice and to report directly to CEOP, by clicking on the Click CEOP button.

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Age Restrictions Poster

What children do online and through social networking

Children and young people go online to connect with friends, and make new ones, to browse the internet for information, chat with others and play games. They may:

search for information or content on search engines like Google and Bing
share images and watch videos through websites or mobile apps like Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube
use social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter
write or reply to messages on forums and message boards
play games alone or with others through websites, apps or game consoles
chat with other people through online games, BBM (Blackberry Messenger), game consoles, webcams, social networks and tools like Whatsapp

When online, children and young people can learn new things, get help with homework, express themselves creatively and connect with friends and family.

There are also risks, but by understanding and talking about the dangers you can help keep your child safe online.

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

Talking to your child

Talking to your child – openly, and regularly – is the best way to help keep them safe online.

You might find it helpful to start with a family discussion to set boundaries and agree what’s appropriate. Or you might need a more specific conversation about an app or website your child wants to use or something you’re worried about.

If you’re not sure where to start then here’s the advice you need – great ways to begin conversations to keep your child safe online. And you can always call our O2 and NSPCC online safety helpline for free expert advice.

Explore sites and apps together

Talk about what might be OK for children of different ages. Ask your child what sites or apps they like. Write a list, and look at them together.

Be positive about what you see, but also be open about concerns you have: “I think this site’s really good” or “I’m a little worried about things I’ve seen here”.

Talk to your child about what you think is appropriate – but also involve them in the conversation. Ask what they think is OK for children of different ages – they’ll feel involved in the decision-making.

Be aware that your child might talk about friends who use apps or visit sites that you’ve decided aren’t suitable. Be ready to discuss your reasons, but recognise that they may not agree with you. Listen carefully for the reasons why.

Go through a final list of sites you both agree are OK, and work out when you’ll next discuss it.

Get online safety advice

What parents need to know to help keep your child safe wherever and whenever they go online.

Ask about things they might see online which make them feel uncomfortable

Talk about things they, or their friends, have seen that made them feel uncomfortable:

Be specific. What exactly made them feel uncomfortable and why? Is it people or animals being hurt? Nasty comments about others?
Link these to things in the real world, and explain that you’re always here to protect and help them online and off.
Reassure your child that they can always talk to you about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Tell them you’ll help them to report anything upsetting they’ve seen, or to deal with online bullying.

Talk about how they can stay safe on social networks

Ask your child if they know:

where reporting functions are
how to block someone
how to keep information private.

Talk about online privacy, and being Share Aware. Explain that online behaviour – including sharing personal information – should mirror behaviour in person.

Explain that talking to strangers isn’t always ‘bad’, but they should always be careful about what they share and sometimes people aren’t who they say they are.

Reassure them that you won’t overreact – you’re just looking out for them

Explain that you understand the internet is a great place to be and that you’re just looking out for them. Tell them they should speak up and not keep secrets if something is worrying them.

Reassure them that you’re interested in all aspects of their life. Say that you’d like to talk about stuff they’ve seen online, sites and apps they visit, and that you’ll share the things you’ve seen too. Recognise that they’ll be using the internet to research homework, for example.

Be Share Aware: talk about what’s OK, and not OK, to share online

Talk to your child about what ‘personal information’ is – such as email address, full name, phone number, address and school name – and why it’s important.

Explain simple ways to protect privacy. For example, avoiding usernames like birthdates or locations that give away too much information.

Discuss images and photos, and what might be appropriate. Help your child understand how photographs can give people a sense of your personality, and that sharing the wrong kind of image can give the wrong impression.

Explain that it isn’t easy to identify someone online. People aren’t always who they say they are, so don’t share personal information. If it’s someone who genuinely knows your child, they shouldn’t need to ask for personal information online.

Tell your child that if they’re in any doubt they should talk to you first.

Sexting

The term ‘sexting’ is derived from texting and refers to the sending of sexually provocative material (including photos, videos and sexually explicit text) from modern communication devices or applications, such as mobile phones, tablets, email, social networking sites and instant messaging services.

Resources

A Parents Guide To Dealing With Sexting

CEOP have created ‘Nude Selfies: What Parents and Carers Need to Know’. This is a series of four short animated films for parents and carers offering advice on how to help keep their children safe from the risks associated with sharing nude and nearly nude images:

Nude Selfies- Film 1 of 4

This is film 1 of 4 from the NCA-CEOP Command’s Thinkuknow education programme’s new resource called ‘Nude Selfies- What Parents and Carers Need to Know’

Nude Selfies Film 2 English subtitles

This is film 2 of Nude Selfies- What parents and carers need to know. Contains English subtitles

Nude Selfies Film 3 English Subtitled

This is Film 3 of Nude Selfies- What parents and carers need to know. Contains English subtitles

Nude Selfies Film 4 English Subtitles

This is Film 4 of Nude Selfies- What parents and carers need to know. Contains English subtitles.

The NSPCC’s Share Aware campaign is at 8 to 12-year-old children and also features two animations I Saw Your Willy and Lucy And The Boy are engaging films with a serious message that follow the stories of two children who share too much about themselves online.

There are lesson plans and assembly resources that accompany this resource and they can be found at www.nspcc.org.uk/shareaware

South West Grid for Learning created a resource ‘So you got naked online’ that offers children, young people and parents advice and strategies to support the issues resulting from sexting incidents.

‘‘Sexting’ in schools: advice and support around self-generated images: What to do and how to handle it’ contains practical advice about how schools should respond to an incident, including how to support a child whose image has been shared and whether or not devices can be searched.

Sexting: How to keep your child stay safe – NSPCC resource