Online Safety
The Internet and its effective use is an essential life skill, which is an important part of learning across the curriculum and in everyday life. At Courtney we understand the huge benefits that the electronic world brings, but we also recognise that unmediated internet access brings with it the possibility of placing pupils in embarrassing, inappropriate and even dangerous situations.
It is important to recognise that e-safety is a whole school community safeguarding responsibility and we are committed to helping parents/carers in supporting their children use the internet in a safe and rewarding way.
E-safety at Home
It is advised that parents/carers talk to their children about how they can use the internet in a safe manner at home. Please see the further information section below for advice and guidance on how to do this.
Information and Links
Here are some tips and useful links to help you to keep your children safe online:
- Explore e-safety sites– There are lots of links to useful e-safety sites for children at the bottom of this page. Why not browse through them with your children.
- Keep your computer in a shared area– Talk to your child about what they are doing online and, if possible, set up your computer in a shared area at home so that you can all share in the wonderful sites that are available online.
- Regularly checking their phone/tablet – Regularly checking your child’s phone or tablet helps monitor their activities on devices that are often kept private.
Some links to more information:
Internet Matters http://www.internetmatters.orgis an online portal designed for parents to access simple, easy and practical advice about online safety for their children, right through from pre-school to teens. It provides tips on protecting children from online grooming, cyberbullying, privacy and identity theft and inappropriate content.
- Think U Know(thinkuknow.co.uk ) – This site contains internet safety advice for those aged from 5 to 16, along with parents and teachers, this site is produced by CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
- NSPCC e-safety http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/ Children are told it’s good to share, but sharing too much online can be dangerous. The NSPCC have got simple advice on how to keep children safe in the digital world.
- Brook– (https://www.brook.org.uk/topics/health-and-wellbeing/ )For their booklet on relationships, safety and risk online and offline –
- Childnet (https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/hot-topics ) – An award-winning internet safety programme for children.
- Bullying UK(bullying.co.uk) – Information and advice about bullying for children, parents and schools.
- ChildLine(childline.org.uk) – 0800 1111 for immediate support – Information on relationships, rights and other issues faced by young people .
- CEOP (formerly the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) – ( ceop.police.uk )
Specifically parents only
- Parent Zone– information and help on a range of parenting topics, with special emphasis on digital parenting – parentzone.org.uk
- CEOP– also has information for parents thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Secondary/
- O2 Keeping Kids Safe Online – www.o2.co.uk/help/online-safety
