Safeguarding News & Events
06/02/24- Safer Internet Day 2024
On Tuesday 6th February it is Safer Internet Day. At school we will be having an assembly about how to be safe online, and pupils will be doing work in their classrooms too. The theme this year is about change and influence online, and with children spending more and more time online nationally, we see this as an important opportunity to focus our thinking around keeping our children safe in the online world.
The UK Safer Internet Centre, who are the hosts of Safer Internet Day, have produced some really helpful information for parents that can be found here: Parents and carers – UK Safer Internet Centre.
Parents are still able to access the free National Online Safety 30-minute course in online safety. Many of our parents completed this course last year and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. There are three different courses available, depending on the age of your child, and all are presented in video form which is easy to access and easy to digest. The resources are of excellent quality, and I would recommend that all parents take the time to complete the course:
National Online Safety Course- Children aged 3-7
National Online Safety Course- Children aged 7-11
National Online Safety Course- Children aged 11-14
National Online Safety also produce excellent resources to support parents with specific elements of online safety. Here are links to a few guides that link to this year’s theme:
NOS Parent Guide to Upsetting Content
NOS Parent Guide to Age-Appropriate Content
NOS Parent Guide: 10 tips to keep your children safe online
NOS Parent Guide: What parents and carers need to know about influencers
As a parent myself, I know that keeping our children safe online is a challenge in an environment that is changing at a rapid rate. It is important that we work together and upskill ourselves in order to best safeguard our children.
Mrs H Lynch
Principal
25/11/23- Smart Phones
National Online Safety have produced a great Parent Guide for Smart Phones. There are some great talking points that you could explore with your children if they have access to a smart phone or tablet.
09/11/23- School Attendance
The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachael de Souza, has released a report about pupil attendance at school. Nationally, attendance is at a worrying low and this report outlines the link between school attendance and academic attainment. Missing Children, Missing Grades | Children’s Commissioner for England (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)
09/11/23 National Online Safety Parent Guide- Supporting Children to Deal with Upsetting Content
18/10/23 National Online Safety Parent Guide- EA Sports FC 24
National Online Safety have produced an information sheet as part of their ‘Wake Up Wednesday’ campaign.
06/10/23 National Online Safety Parent Guide- Among Us
National Online Safety have produced an information sheet about the online game ‘Among Us’.
Gaming Advice: League of Legends
National Online Safety have produced an information sheet about the video game ‘League of Legends’. This is a great source of factual information and safety tips for parents of children engaging in this game. Please click here to access the resource.
Panorama: Is TikTok Safe?
On Monday 2nd November, the BBC aired a Panorama programme entitled ‘Is Tiktok Safe?’. This was specifically discussing how safe it is for young users of the social networking app. It was very informative but is quite upsetting and disturbing in parts. It is a ‘must watch’ for parents whose children are using TikTok. Please follow the link below to watch on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer Panorama: Is TikTok Safe?
National Online Safety
National Online Safety have produced a series of free workshops accessible through their website. The series supports parents to understand the different risks that children might experience at different ages in order to help parents to feel confidence and empowered to keep their children safe online.
EYFS and KS1 (ages 4-7): https://nationalonlinesafety.com/courses/online-safety-klass-for-parents-and-carers-ages-4-7
KS2 (ages 7-11): https://nationalonlinesafety.com/courses/online-safety-klass-for-parents-and-carers-ages-7-11
KS3 (ages 11-14): https://nationalonlinesafety.com/courses/online-safety-klass-for-parents-and-carers-ages-11-14-1
KS4 and beyond (ages 14-18): https://nationalonlinesafety.com/courses/online-safety-klass-for-parents-and-carers-ages-14-18-1
March 2021- #Wearethinkingofyou Solihull
Solihull Local Authority have produced a guidance document for parents to signpost of possible sources of support. The document can be found by clicking here.