Online Safety
Staying Safe Online
At St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, we believe in the educational benefits of internet and technology use within the curriculum. We also recognise the potential risks and plan carefully to help ensure appropriate, effective and safe pupil use. Pupils’ safety is paramount.
The curriculum requires pupils to learn how to locate, retrieve, evaluate and exchange information using technology. Computer skills are vital for learning and future life, and we believe that safe and responsible use of technology is an essential life skill.
We take all reasonable precautions to ensure pupils access appropriate online material in school. However, as online content is constantly changing, we also teach pupils to be aware of risks, make safe choices and know how to seek help if something worries them.
Online safety is taught through Computing, PSHE/RHE, assemblies and regular conversations with trusted adults. Children learn about key online risks, including inappropriate content, online communication, cyberbullying, privacy, scams, misinformation and respectful behaviour online.
Keeping Your Child Safe Online
We believe that school and parents/carers need to work together to help children stay safe online, both at school and at home.
Parents and carers can support children by:
- knowing what children are doing online and who they are communicating with
- talking regularly about the apps, games and websites they use
- keeping devices in shared family spaces where appropriate
- reminding children never to share personal details, including email addresses, mobile numbers, passwords, photographs or videos
- helping children understand that some people may not be who they say they are online
- reminding children never to meet someone they have only spoken to online without a trusted adult
- encouraging children to tell a trusted adult if anything online makes them feel worried, uncomfortable or unsafe
- showing children how to block and report someone online if needed
Any online safety concerns are treated as safeguarding concerns and should be reported to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Useful Websites:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
