St Mary Magdalen'sOnline Safety - Advice for Parents
At the centre of our provision is the importance of educating our pupils to be safe online. This includes minimising the risks of using online resources including being exposed to inappropriate content and being subjected to harmful interaction.
Pupils at St Magdalen’s Catholic Junior School are taught what appropriate behaviour looks like, so they are able to express themselves in a way that does not harm themselves or others when they use the internet.
They learn what actions they should take when they see something online that worries them. Pupils are empowered to question the content they see, assessing if it is likely to be reliable information.
We all have responsibility to make the internet a safer place, so it is essential that your children continue to learn how they can stay safe online outside of school. Parents and carers please talk to your children about how they can navigate the internet in a safe, responsible and engaging way.
Put yourself in control in the following ways:
- Encourage the use of technology in a family area. The best protection is adult supervision.
- Understand the risks that children need to deal with. What could they see? Who might they meet? How will this affect them?
- Practical tips to minimise risks your child might face. Use the safety advice and tools that apps and websites provide. Don’t be put off by believing that your child knows more than you do. Make sure that your child knows the point of these tools and how to use them.
- Agree boundaries. Be clear about what you child can and can’t do on the internet. Use privacy settings and sharing controls.
- Explore together. The best way to find out about what your child does online is to ask them about it. What are their favourite apps and sites? What do they think could go wrong? Who should they speak to if they are concerned?
- Check if it is suitable. The age ratings that come with games, apps, films and social networks are a good guide to whether they’re suitable for your child. The minimum age limit is 13 for some social networking sites, including Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp has an age rating of 16+.
Talk to your child about how they can keep safe online and what good behaviour looks like. It might be helpful talking through the SMART rules of internet safety. The following provided advice on how you can keep your
Children safer online
LInk to 3BM video: https://www.loom.com/share/eab816da94dc4c06920387a74bfaa7b5
You can find more information on how you can make the internet a safer place for your child and others using the following online resources.
Childnet
A non-profit organisation working to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command
Since 2003, Common Sense has been the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools. Every day, millions of parents and educators trust Common Sense reviews and advice to help them navigate the digital world with their kids.
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The UK’s hotline for reporting illegal content found online. The IWF deals specifically with child abuse and criminally obscene images hosted in the UK and internationally.
It can be hard to know how to talk to your child about online safety. From setting up parental controls to advice on sexting, online games and video apps, we can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe.
Think you know is an education programme from the National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command. They provide education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
UK Council for Internet Safety
Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media
Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online.
OFCOM - Children & Parents media use and attitudes report 2022