It can be hard for parents to keep up with new technologies, and just thinking about keeping children safe online can seem daunting. 

The main dangers children and their parents need to be aware of are: cyber bullying, grooming by sexual predators and the problems of posting personal or embarrassing information online. 

It is important to remember that the internet is a fun and valuable place for children to play and learn, and the vast majority of the time using the internet is a fantastic experience for millions of children. 

However there can be hidden dangers. On the internet people can be instantly connected and you cannot always be sure you are talking to the person you think you are. It is also worth remembering, once something is posted on the internet it is almost impossible to remove and so personal or embarrassing material can be seen by anyone, anywhere. 

We shouldn’t be overwhelmed by the negatives, remember the internet is a great resource for children. It is important that we give them space to explore the internet, so they can learn to keep themselves safe. 

Advice for parents of 11-13 year olds 

Advice for parents of 14+ year olds 

As our children grow into more independent internet users, they develop their own habits in relation to their online use. It is important that parents and carers are aware of how to keep their children safe online and keep up to date with the latest platforms, apps and messaging services that could pose a risk to their safety.

One of the best ways to keep your child safe is by having frank and honest discussions about their online behaviours. You should also consider managing their devices and setting up parental controls on your home broadband. This link will help you to set up controls on your home devices. Parental Controls & Privacy Settings Guides – Internet Matters

Talking to your child as early as possible about online safety is one of the best ways to protect them. Tips on how to talk to your child about online safety:

  1. Talk early and often. Talk to your child about online safety as soon as they are old enough to own or have access to devices. The earlier you start to have these conversations, the easier it will be to maintain them.
  2. Choose to talk to your child when you are due to spend some time together – so for example, over dinner, or during their bedtime routine. Bring digital experience into normal, everyday conversations.
  3. Open up and share too! Model the behaviour that you would like to see in your child. Be open and encourage them to be open too.
  4. Create a safe space for your child to open up. Always try to ask open ended questions and avoid jumping to conclusions. Try to ensure that your child feels listened to.

We teach our scholars to be a good citizen

At Brook Mead Academy, students are encouraged to be aware of school rules and to adhere to classroom codes and conducts. These rules and regulations need to be applied when we go online through a computer, laptop, smartphone, games console or mobile device?

Remember…

  • Do NOT share photos of other scholars.
  • Be very careful with photos.
  • Do NOT send unkind or hurtful messages.
  • Do NOT respond to unkind or hurtful messages.
  • Think before you post.
  • Be careful with your personal information.
  • Treat strangers online the same way as strangers in the street.
  • If you receive a nasty message, keep it as evidence
  • If you feel that something is wrong tell a parent, member of staff or other trusted adult.

Visit www.saferinternet.org.uk or www.childnet.com to find out more about how you can support Safer Internet Day.

Supporting young people online information and advice for parents and carers.

Follow the link below to report abuse through the CEOP website.

Online Safety Curriculum at Brook Mead Academy

We aim to equip our scholars with the knowledge needed to make the best use of the internet and technology in a safe, considered and respectful way, so they are able to reap the benefits of the online world. We aim to embed teaching about online safety and harms within a whole school approach.

As part of our PSHE curriculum, scholars are taught about online safety and harms. This includes being taught:

  • what positive, healthy and respectful online relationships look like.
  • the effects of their online actions on others.
  • how to recognise and display respectful behaviour online.

This all complements our computing curriculum, which covers the principles of online safety in all years. This includes:

  • how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely.
  • where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

There are also other curriculum subjects which include content relevant to teaching scholars how to use the internet safely. For example, in Citizenship our scholars learn:

  • freedom of speech.
  • the role and responsibility of the media in informing and shaping public opinion.
  • the concept of democracy, freedom, rights, and responsibilities.

In Online Safety lessons across years 7-11, scholars are taught:

  • How to evaluate what they see online
  • How to recognise techniques used for persuasion
  • Positive online behaviour
  • How to identify online risks
  • How and when to seek support
  • Online media literacy strategy
  • About harms and risks
  • How to navigate the internet and manage information
    • Age restrictions
    • How content can be used and shared
    • Disinformation, misinformation, malinformation and hoaxes
    • Fake websites and scam emails
    • Fraud (online)
    • Password phishing
    • Personal data
    • Persuasive design
    • Privacy settings
    • Targeting of online content (including on social media and search engines)
  • About harms and how to stay safe online
    • Abuse (online)
    • Online radicalisation
    • Challenges
    • Content which incites
    • Fake profiles
    • Grooming
    • Live streaming
    • Pornography
    • Unsafe communication
  • Wellbeing
    • Impact on confidence (including body confidence)
  • Impact on quality of life, physical and mental health and relationships
    • Online versus offline behaviours
    • Reputational damage
    • Suicide, self-harm and eating disorders

At Home

We know that parents and carers will also want to take steps to keep their children safe from online harms when outside of school.  The world of technology is a fast-paced one and keeping up with the latest developments can be tricky.

It’s a good idea to talk to your child regularly about what they are doing online so that the lines of communication are open, you can use this time to let them know that you are interested in their lives and that they can always come to you for help if they need to.  Conversation starters could be:

  • What sites do you enjoy looking at and why?
  • What do you use for chatting to friends?  How do those sites work?
  • What do you already know about online safety?
  • What would you do if you saw or heard something worrying when you are online?

The following basic advice can be useful in helping your child to stay safe:

  • Ensure that your privacy settings are high
  • Don’t reveal passwords to anyone
  • Don’t accept people as online friends who you don’t know if real life.  Consider who you can trust – do ‘friends of friends’ really count?
  • Don’t reveal personal details, such as your address or telephone number
  • Never agree to meet someone from your online world without ensuring that an adult knows where you are and, preferably, goes with you
  • Protect your online reputation because, chances are, your boss might Google you one day
  • Think about what you post – be kind online

It is also helpful to help your child to understand what action they can take if they see or hear something worrying when they are online.  You can advise your child to:

  • Tell someone.  Let them know that they can turn to you if they are worried.  They can also speak to someone in school
  • They should block people that post worrying or unkind comment or who send unkind messages
  • They can report to CEOP – if someone is abusive or posts concerning content then they can report this to CEOP
  • They can report to the platform directly – they can contact SnapChat or Instagram for example to ask for the content to be removed

You might find this guide from Internet Matters helpful in taking practical steps in connection with online safety.  Click here to read more

Please follow this link for further advice about dealing with and reporting harmful content

National Online Safety produces helpful guides for parents to understand social media platforms, gaming platforms and to keep abreast of new technologies.  You can access this here

You can also find more information under our Support for Parents section of our website

Supporting young people online information and advice for parents and carers.

Follow the link below to report abuse through the CEOP website.