ZIP IT
Make sure your child knows to always keep private information safe and watch what they say on the internet. People may not be who they say they are online and it’s not always possible to control who can see your child’s information.
Your child should know not to give out information like:
· their full name, photos,
· postal or email addresses
· school information
· mobile or home telephone numbers
· details of places they like to spend time
Make sure your child knows that they shouldn’t arrange to meet people that they have only met online. Even if they have been chatting with someone for a while, that person is still a stranger.
You can help keep your child’s information safe by setting privacy settings. This can restrict access to personal information and photos on things like social networking sites.
You should also encourage your child to use a nickname instead of their real name in chat rooms or on instant messaging services. To stop people accessing your child’s online accounts, encourage them to keep their passwords secret, and to change them regularly.
BLOCK IT
Get your child to block people who send offensive messages and tell them not to open unknown links and attachments. They should delete any suspicious emails or attachments as they may contain something offensive or have a virus that can cause damage to the computer.
One of the main ways children can come across inappropriate content online is through search results. Most search engines include a 'safe search' option that excludes results containing inappropriate images or key words.
You can also install parental control software to filter out harmful and inappropriate content for computers and some mobile phones and games consoles.
FLAG IT
The final rule is that your child should come to you or a trusted adult if they are worried or unhappy about anything they see online. They should also do this if a friend, they have made online, has asked to meet them in the offline world.
If your child does experience inappropriate content online, report it to the website it appears on. UKCCIS has developed an internet safety 'one stop shop' with more information.
Key Information
Online Safety Newsletters and Posters
National Online Safety - Roblox
National Online Safety - EA Sports
National Online Safety - X / Twitter
National Online Safety - Supporting children with upsetting content
NSPCC Online Safety Workshop for Parents/Carers Letter and Zoom Link
Pupil Survey
KS1 Online Safety Survey Feb 2024
KS2 Online Safety Survey Feb 2024
KS1 Online Safety Pupil Survey - February 2023
KS2 Online Safety Pupil Survey - February 2023
Online Safety feedback (children's views) - October 2022
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day February 2024
Useful Links for Parents and Carers:
- Videos of key e-safety messages for parents to share with children - https://www.childnet.com/resources/video-lessons/
- Parent guides to social media websites - https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/
- Think U Know parent information - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
- Internet Matters supporting parents online - https://www.internetmatters.org/
- NSPCC Keeping Children Safe Online - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
- How to turn on restrictions:
- on iPhones and iPads - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201304
- on Kindle tablets - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201829940
- on Android devices - https://www.wikihow.tech/Set-Up-Parental-Controls-in-Android
- on YouTube - https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084
- Advice from Apple about family safety - https://www.apple.com/families/
- Apple guide for using the Screen Time app to monitor usage and set limits - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208982
- An example of a parent monitoring application - https://www.spyzie.com/
- Guide to the Digital 5-a-Day https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/digital/5-a-day/
- Article "How much screen time is too much for our children?" https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/screen-time-technology-kids-limit-13464670
- Article "Limiting children's screen time linked to better cognition" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45651725
- Parent video guide to social media - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLSakcEJbak
- National Online Safety Posters - https://nationalonlinesafety.com/guides
