Online Safety

At Cherry Orchard Primary Academy we seek to embrace the digital age by creating responsible digital citizens.  As we move forward the Internet and related technologies, including mobile phones, blogs, podcasting and social networks are becoming increasingly important in the daily lives of our children and have many positive benefits. They can be used both educationally and socially and are becoming part of a child’s identity. Socially our older children are beginning to use the Internet for entertainment, interaction, and communication with ‘friends’ at home.  Access to the Internet can take place anywhere and at any time, so we need to make sure our children are able to use the Internet safely.

Many children are unaware of the risks;  for example the danger of having online friends (who could be strangers), uploading inappropriate images, viewing unsuitable content or even becoming addicted to the Internet.

Our programme of online safety guides your child through the benefits and dangers of having a virtual presence.  Through assemblies, a bespoke internet safety curriculum and action days, we actively prepare your child to be a responsible digital citizen.  It is imperative that we all have a role to play in keeping pupils safe online.  If you have any concerns, we encourage you to contact our Online Safeguarding Officer (Miss Boswell) for advice and guidance or report it to CEOP (Child exploitation and Online protection Centre).

 

Resources and Websites for Parents/Carers

• Government Advice – Follow this link for the latest online safety update from the Government during COVID–19 conditions.
• Share Aware –   It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games. Or know how to keep them safe.  Together we’re helping parents untangle the web. And teach their children to be Share Aware.  Because, just like in real life, kids need your help to stay safe online.
• Think U Know – Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
• Childnet: Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. The Childnet website hosts all the online resources detailed below, as well as a number of recommended resources for young people, parents, carers and teachers.
• Digizen: A website providing information and advice to encourage responsible digital citizenship. It shares advice and guidance on preventing and responding to cyberbullying, including the film ‘Let’s Fight It Together’ and specific information on social networking.

• A Parent’s Guide to Being Share-Aware. “We tell children it’s good to share, but online it’s different. That’s why we’re asking parents to be Share Aware.”
• Talking Points. Talking to your child – openly, and regularly – is the best way to help keep them safe online.

Parental Controls and Filtering

• A Parents’ Guide to Technology: The UK Safer Internet Centre has created this guide to answer commonly asked questions and introduce some of the most popular devices used by children, highlighting the safety tools available and empowering parents with the knowledge they need to support their children to use these technologies safely and responsibly.
• Internet Parental Controls: The four big internet providers – BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media – provide their customers with free parental controls that can be activated at any time. Video tutorials on how to download and use these controls are available on the UK Safer Internet Centre website.

• Cherry Orchard Primary Academy recommends that pupils avoid using all social networking sites and tools until they are of an appropriate age to do so.  If parents/families allow the use of such sites then they are strongly advised to use nicknames and avatars when using social networking sites, blogs, Wikis, instant messengers etc. Avatars and nicknames help give pupil’s a ‘hidden’ identity on the internet rather than encouraging them to upload photographs of themselves.
• SWGfL Social Media Checklists up to date and free to download guides on social media sites including TikTok and Roblox.
• NetAware is your guide to the social networks your kids use. Stay up to date and keep your child safe in today’s digital world. Includes specific guidance for the most popular sites/apps including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Twitter as well as an A-Z guide to many others.
• With DoppelMe you can create a cool graphical likeness of yourself, your friends, family or any group of people for use as an avatar in forums, instant messenger, blogs and almost anywhere else on the web.