Online Safety
Online Safety – Staying Safe, Happy and Healthy Online
At Whipman Woods, we recognise that technology is an important and positive part of children's lives. Our aim is not simply to teach children about the risks they may encounter online, but to help them develop the knowledge, confidence and healthy habits they need to use technology safely, responsibly and positively throughout their lives.
Online safety is taught explicitly through our ProjectEVOLVE computing lessons and is also woven throughout our PSHE curriculum, helping children understand topics such as privacy, passwords and personal information, online friendships and communication, appropriate content, cyberbullying, consent, digital footprints and knowing when and how to ask for help. This learning is strengthened and deepened through themed events and wider curriculum opportunities, including Safer Internet Day and Children's Mental Health Week, when children consider issues such as screen time, wellbeing, healthy relationships and the impact technology can have on how we think and feel.
We encourage children to remember that the same expectations of Be Ready, Be Kind and Be Safe apply online as they do in school and in the wider world. Children are taught that if something online makes them feel worried, uncomfortable, frightened or unsure, they should stop, move away from the content where possible and tell a trusted adult. They will never be in trouble for asking for help.
Top Tips for Parents and Carers
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Talk regularly about life online. Make online activity part of everyday conversation so children feel comfortable telling you about both positive and difficult experiences.
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Take an interest in what your child uses. Know the games, apps, websites and platforms they access and check that they are appropriate for their age.
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Use parental controls and privacy settings. These are useful safeguards, but work best alongside regular conversations and supervision.
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Teach children to protect personal information. Children should understand that information such as their full name, school, address, passwords, photographs and location should not be shared without appropriate permission.
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Agree healthy boundaries together. Establish expectations around screen time, devices at bedtime, where devices can be used and how family members behave online.
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Talk about online friendships. Help children understand that people online may not always be who they say they are and that they should never arrange to meet an online contact without a trusted adult's knowledge.
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Encourage kindness and responsibility. Remind children that messages, photographs and comments can affect others and can leave a lasting digital footprint.
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Keep communication open. Reassure your child that if they make a mistake or see something upsetting online, they can tell you. A calm response makes it much more likely that they will come to you again.
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Report concerns. Inappropriate content, contact or behaviour should be reported using the platform's reporting tools and shared with school where it may affect a child's safety or wellbeing. Where there is an immediate risk to a child, appropriate safeguarding or emergency services should be contacted.
Our message to children is: enjoy technology, use it positively, make safe choices and always tell a trusted adult if something doesn't feel right.
Parent Safe is a good website with lots of e-safety support and guidance for parents. Please use the following link to visit the Parent safe website - Parent Safe.
The following websites are also useful to help you support safe and responsible internet use with your children:
Keeping your child safe from online abuse
Helping Parents & Carers Keep their Child Safer Online
Age Restrictions on Social Media