Digital Safety
Intent
In order for our pupils to be safe online they need to be:
- Digitally aware – have enough understanding of the internet and associated technologies to be able to keep themselves safe.
- Digitally responsible – ensuring that they act appropriately online to keep themselves and others safe.
- Digitally resilient – are able to cope when things go wrong – and know where and how to seek help and support safely.
As a school we work closely with pupils, parents and members of the community to support children as they learn to navigate the online world. The internet, tablets, phones and devices are wonderful tools for children to learn and explore the immense world around them, however they present real dangers and risks too, which can often be less visible. We help pupils learn to navigate this digital world with confidence and resilience, so that they can safely enjoy all of the benefits that technology brings.
Because keeping children safe is something we all have shared responsibility for, as a School we will work closely with parents and carers to provide information and guidance about digital safety:
- The School website has a detailed section on Digital Safety, containing a resources and links to help keep children safe online.
- Half termly newsletters are written with relevant, recent information that parents should be aware of.
- Advice is offered through Parent information Evenings.
The Digital Safety Curriculum
Throughout their time at Test Valley School, pupils learn about numerous aspects of digital safety to help protect and support them with the online issues they might face. Whilst the issues are constantly changing depending on what the latest game/craze is, we strive to help our pupils understand the key safety concerns and to help them to make wise decisions regarding their online presence.
Digital safety is taught in different areas of the curriculum. This includes PSHE, Computer Science and in Assemblies.
Topics covered include:
- How to report anything that is unsafe, untrue or harmful.
- Indecent images
- Cyber bullying
- Online gaming risks
- Accepting cookies/T&Cs
- Online shopping
- Harassment & Stalking
- Managing risk online
- Positive viral content
- Online gambling
- Virtual footprint
- Big data
- Social media careers
- Internet and stress
- Fake news
- Online banking
- Internet as revision
Useful Links
The NSPCC website has a wide range of information and advice on how to talk to your child about sharing images online, bullying, spending too much time online, pornography and sharing personal information.
National Online Safety is another website with helpful information about a wide range of apps and games, including social media. They do ‘Guides for Parents’ which are particularly useful!
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/
ThinkUKnow is a great website for learning more about online dangers and for having conversations with your child. There are lots of brilliant, quite hard-hitting videos which can be watched together and then discussed as a family.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
The government have also released an information pack for parents to support parents in keeping their child safe online.
CEOP is a national crime agency who work with the police and they provide a fast, supportive and safe way of reporting sexual online abuse.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Finally, the official government guidance for the “Support for Parents and Carers to Keep Children Safe Online”