Online Safety

Online Safety at EWPA

At EWPA we understand that Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe. We recognise that as technology develops and becomes embedded in our way of life, our children access the internet more and more. Through our extensive security measures and curriculum teaching, we strive to ensure that our children are using the internet securely and safely.

The internet is a powerful resource for the children to use, however with this comes risk and it is essential for children and parents to be aware of the risks and ways to ensure they are using the internet safely and behave appropriately online.

At EWPA we teach the children how to use the internet safely, including the use of social media. Teachers use every opportunity to facilitate discussions and learning opportunities  with the children about how they can stay safe online. Any online safety incidents are recorded onto CPOM's and managed.  

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the online safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online. We encourage every parent and carer in our school community along with staff to use the Safer School App to keep up to date about online safety and to understand how to keep the children safe. In addition to this, we send out a termly online safety newsletter with support, information and guidance.

Online Safety At Home

We are aware that many of the children at school have access to the internet through a computer, tablet or phone. We understand how difficult it can be to ensure your child is safe whilst accessing the internet and participating in a range of online activities.

Even through the use of computer games and mobile phones the children must understand the risk. It is the responsibility of us as teachers and you as adults to ensure the content of the website, game or video is suitably age appropriate. There are many websites that are and taking the time to visit a website before the children have access to them is extremely important.

Click here to view support and guidance for parents or carers with regards with how to keep your child safe, including top tips for searching online safely, being safe with a mobile phone and how to deal with online bullying.

Staying Safe Online

  • Don’t post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.
  • Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself.  Once you’ve put  a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
  •  Keep your privacy settings as high as possible
  • Never give out your passwords
  • Don’t befriend people you don’t know
  • Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online.  Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do
  • Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are
  • Think carefully about what you say before you post something online
  • Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude
  •  If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.

Mobile Phone Safety

  • Remember if you are being bullied it isn’t your fault and there is nothing so awful that you can’t speak to someone about it.  Talk to a trusted adult at home or at school.
  • Don’t reply to any nasty messages you receive.
  • Don’t reply to a text from someone you don’t know.
  • Keep the messages you have been sent so you can show them to a trusted adult and make a note of the time and date of the messages or calls you receive.
  • Don’t answer calls from withheld numbers or numbers you don’t recognise, let it go to voicemail.
  • Block numbers from people who are sending you nasty messages.
  • If you are bullied repeatedly can change your number.
  • Don’t give your mobile number to someone you don’t know.
  • Don’t send pictures to someone you don’t know.
  • If the problem is serious you can report it to the police, cyber mentors, or childline.

Online Bullying

  • Tell an adult you trust if you are being cyberbullied
  • Don’t respond or retaliate to bullying messages  – it could make things worse
  • Block users who send you nasty messages
  • Save abusive emails or messages (or texts) you receive
  • Make a note of dates and times you receive bullying messages, as well as details you have of the user’s ID and the url.
  • Don’t pass on any cyberbullying videos or messages – this is cyberbullying
  • If you are bullied repeatedly change your user ID, or profile,  and use a name that doesn’t give any information away about you
  • Visit bullying.co.uk – this is a website where trained counsellors can support you if you are being bullied, either by chatting online or by calling their free helpline. You can also find some top tips on how to stay safe – http://www.bullying.co.uk/
  • You can talk to someone at Child Line or get online safety advice at  http://www.childline.org.uk/talk/Pages/Talk.aspx
  • http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ is another very useful website for children and young people staying safe online