E-Safety

E-safety

We take e-safety very seriously at Barrington Primary School, ensuring your children are safe when they are working online.

Our e-safety policy reflects the importance we place on safe use of information systems and electronic communication. We aim to keep children safe online and also when using mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It is most important to educate children on the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology, and we seek to help parents play their full part in ensuring their children are aware and safe in and out of school.


All of our pupils and staff have signed e-behaviour agreements and training is provided annually for both staff and pupils.

Mrs Beswick is our e-safety co-ordinator and is happy to help with any problems or questions you may have about your children’s online safety.

A copy of our e-safety policy has been agreed by governors and can be found in the policies section of the school website. This policy has much in common with our behaviour, child protection and anti bullying policies and is built into our Computing curriculum.

Our children use STARZ+, a completely safe online learning platform, through which we teach all aspects of keeping safe online through the e-safety teaching programme ACE (Accredited Competence in e-safety). ACE teaches children the importance of protecting and keeping their identity secure; how to be safe when connecting with others online and how to exchange and share information safely.

 

How can I be sure my child is safe online?

  • Make sure you have installed parental controls on your home broadband and any internet-enabled devices.
  • Set up a user account for your child on the family computer and make sure other accounts in the household are password-protected so that younger children can’t access them by accident.

How can I ensure that my child avoids unsuitable material when searching for information?

  • Try to use safe search engines such as Swiggle, Kidrex or Kids-search.
  • Safe search settings can also be activated on Google (and other search engines including YouTube).
  • The age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks are a good guide to whether they’re suitable for your child. For example, the minimum age limit is 13 for several social networking sites, including Facebook and Instagram.
  • Be aware that sites aimed at under-10s can have social networking elements so you should closely monitor your child’s use of these too.

How can I maintain control of my child’s use of devices and the internet?

  • Agree and set boundaries with them or have a family contract for their internet use. Look in the resources below for a document to get you started on this.
  • Be clear what your child can and can’t do online – where they can use the internet, how much time they can spend online, the sites they can visit and the type of information they can share.
  • Agree with your child when they can have a mobile phone or tablet.
  • Put your family computer in a communal area like the lounge or kitchen so you can keep an eye on how they are using the internet and also share in their enjoyment.

How can I protect my child from online bullying?

  • Know your child. This is very important. Kids who are already suffering from low self-esteem or depression are prime targets for cyberbullying. It can be tempting to assume that your child is just going through a phase or that they’re just in a “bad mood,” but you are better off seeking professional help if there is a problem than simply waiting things out.
  • Know the danger signs. Your child may become more withdrawn or moody. They may spend more time online, or may refuse to use the computer altogether. They may cut off ties with friends. If your child gives any indication that they are being bullied on or offline, take it seriously.
  • Teach your child what to do in cases where they feel threatened or bullied. They should ignore the offender and contact an adult immediately. They should never engage with the person who is threatening them as that is only encouragement for the behaviours to continue. As an adult, if you feel threatened by someone online, contact the police just to be safe. You can also use built-in measures on certain websites, such as ignoring or reporting someone else.

Where can I find out more information?

 

 e-safety videos for children

Hector’s World: For younger children. Watch Hector and his friends learning to use the computer safely:

Lee and KimFor 5-8 year olds. Explore safe use of computers with Lee and Kim:

Thinkuknow Cyber Café: Have fun keeping safe in the cool cyber café with Jason, Sunil and Ali