Parents play a crucial role in ensuring that their children understand the need to use the Internet/mobile devices in an appropriate way. At school we will take every opportunity to help parents understand the that our children face in terms of online safety. Through working together we will keep all our children safe online.
To help us, our online policy set out some key online safety responsibilities for all our parents.
The key responsibilities for parents are to:
- support the school in promoting online safety which includes the pupils’ use of the Internet and the school’s use of photographic and video images;
- read, sign, and promote the Pupil Acceptable Use Agreement and Ipad agreements. Parents are then asked to encourage their child to follow it;
- consult with the school if they have any concerns about their child’s and others’ use of technology;
- promote positive online safety and model safe, responsible, and positive behaviours in their own use of technology (including on social media) by ensuring that they themselves do not use the Internet/social network sites/other forms of technical communication in an inappropriate or defamatory way;
- support the school's approach to online safety by not uploading or posting to the Internet any images or details of others without permission and refraining from posting pictures, video or text that could upset, offend, or threaten the safety of any member of the school community or bring the school into disrepute.
Our staff who have responsibility for online safety
Online Safety Guide for Parents
Online Safety Podcast for Parents
This podcast is your one-stop-shop for internet safety news and comments
Parental Control
Test your parental controls at home - follow this link
How can parents and carers help children get off to a good start using digital devices?
Internet Safety Parental Control Guides
CEOP
News and articles surrounding internet safety.
Think You Know
Great advice to keep children safe whilst using the internet.
Parent Information
Expert information to help children and young people stay safe online.
UK Safer Internet Centre
E-safety tips, advice and resources.
NSPCC Safety Online
Helpful advice and tools you can use to help keep your child safe whenever and wherever they go online.
Childnet International
Parents and Carers information to keep your child safe online.
Action for Children
Action for Children supports and speaks for the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children and young people.
BBC Bitesize
Fun activities to help children learn more key subjects.
Department for Education
Articles and advice for children and young people.
Handling online safety concerns and incidents
Our staff recognise that online safety is only one element of the wider safeguarding agenda as well as being a curriculum strand of Computing, PSHE/RSHE and Citizenship.
General concerns will be handled in the same way as any other child protection concern. Early reporting to the DSL/OSL is vital to ensure that the information contributes to the overall picture or highlights what might not yet be a problem.
Support staff will often have a unique insight and opportunity to find out about issues first in the playground, corridors, toilets, and other communal areas outside the classroom (particularly relating to bullying and sexual harassment and violence).
Procedures for dealing with online safety, concerns and incidents are detailed in the following Policies:
- Child Protection Policy and procedures
- Behaviour Policy and procedures (includes anti-bullying procedures)
- Acceptable Use Agreements
- Prevent Risk Assessment
- Data Protection Policy, agreements, and other documentation (e.g. privacy statement, consent forms for data sharing image use etc.)
We are committed to taking all reasonable precautions to ensure online safety but recognise that incidents will occur both inside and outside school. All members of the school community are encouraged to report issues swiftly to school staff so that they can be dealt with quickly and sensitively through the school’s escalation processes.
Any suspected online risk or infringement should be reported to the DSL/OSL on the same day wherever possible or, if out of school, the following school day
Any concern/allegation about misuse by staff or other adult in school will always be referred directly to the Head teacher unless the concern is about the Head teacher, in which case, the complaint will be directed to the Chair of Governors. Staff may also use the NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline. Call 0800 028 0285 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk.
The school will actively seek support from other agencies as needed (i.e. Local Authority Safeguarding Hub, UK Safer Internet Centre’s Professionals’ Online Safety Helpline (03443814772), NCA CEOP, Cumbria Police Prevent Officer, Cumbria Police, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)).
We will inform parents of online safety incidents involving their child and the Police where staff or pupils engage in or are subject to behaviour which we consider is particularly disturbing or is considered illegal.
- In this school there is strict monitoring and application of the Online Safety Policy and a differentiated and appropriate range of sanctions.
- All members of the school community will be informed about the procedure for reporting online safety concerns (such as breaches of filtering, cyberbullying, illegal content etc.).
- The Online Safety Coordinator will record all reported incidents and actions taken in the School Online Safety incident log and other in any relevant areas e.g. Bullying or Child protection log.
- The Designated Safeguarding Lead will be informed of any online safety incidents involving Child Protection concerns, which will then be escalated appropriately – See Child Protection Policy and procedures for dealing with concerns.
- The school will manage Online Safety incidents in accordance with the school discipline/Behaviour Policy where appropriate.
- The school will inform parents of any incidents or concerns as and when required.
- After any investigations are completed, the school will debrief, identify lessons learnt and implement any changes required.
- Where there is cause for concern or fear that illegal activity has taken place or is taking place then the school will contact the Safeguarding Hub and escalate the concern to the Police.
- If the school is unsure how to proceed with any incidents of concern, then the incident may be escalated to the Safeguarding Hub – see Child Protection Policy and procedures.