Internet Safety – Parent Guide
We work hard to keep your children safe in school when they are using the internet. The internet provides an inspiring range of learning resources for your children as well as some risks. Our online access is filtered through a safety grid provided by Integra IT services which ensures a great deal of unsuitable content cannot be accessed. These systems also track and report any unsuitable search attempts so we are able to deal with any issues this may raise for pupils or staff.
Online safety is taught explicitly through our PSHE scheme, Jigsaw, as well as being embedded into any teaching involving the use of internet services:
https://littlestokeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Jigsaw-PSHE-Progression-Map.pdf
LSPS policies page (including online safety and child protection policies)
Please contact the school if you would like any more information about online safety. Below is some useful information about keepin safe online at home:
ONLINE SAFETY AND REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES:
Online safety is more important than ever as children will be spending more time on the internet accessing their home learning. The Government site for keeping children safe whilst online has a recommended list of website for advice about how you can talk to your children about keep safe as well as actions you can take to support safe internet use:
- Thinkuknow by the National Crime Agency – Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (NCA-CEOP) provides resources for parents and carers and children of all ages to help keep children safe online.
- Childnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, as well as guidance on keeping under-fives safe online
Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP, providing support and guidance for parents and carers related to the digital world from leading experts and organisations
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has guidance for parents and carers to help keep children safe online
UK Safer Internet Centre provides tips and advice for parents and carers to keep children safe online – you can also report any harmful content found online through the UK Safer Internet Centre
More information can be found on the government site about how to keep children safe online:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online
Parental controls on Smart phones and tablets
Children and young people are growing up in a world where mobile devices are fully integrated into everyday life. Almost all children will have access to either their own or use of a Smart Phone or Mobile device in their day to day interactions.
There are many benefits that these devices bring; but there are risks too. There is lots of useful information and resources which can help minimise these risks. Please see the links below to learn more about how to add parental controls and support your children to keep safe whilst using mobile devices.
How to guides from EE for adding parental control to iPhone and Android devices:
https://eephonesmart.co.uk/online-safety-tips/guide-to-parental-controls/
The NSPCC have a wide range of advice and guides for keeping children safe on a range of devices:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/
Top Tips
Talk to your child about what they’re up to online. Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest. Find out what sites they visit and what they love about them, if they know you understand they are more likely to come to you if they have any problems.
Watch Thinkuknow films and cartoons with your child. The Thinkuknow site has films, games and advice for children from five all the way to 16.
Encourage your child to go online and explore! There is a wealth of age-appropriate sites online for your children. Encourage them to use sites which are fun, educational and that will help them to develop online skills.
Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Children grow up fast and they will be growing in confidence and learning new skills daily. It’s important that as your child learns more, so do you.
Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world. Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to discuss boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online.
Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space. For children of this age, it is important to keep internet use in family areas so you can see the sites your child is using and be there for them if they stumble across something they don’t want to see.
Know what connects to the internet and how. Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Make sure you’re aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it your connection, or a neighbour’s wifi? This will affect whether the safety setting you set are being applied.
Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones. Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start and they are not as difficult to install as you might think. Service providers are working hard to make them simple, effective and user friendly.