01293 525449
01293 525449  


Online Safety

The world our children are growing up in is becoming more and more digital.  Technology can provide new learning opportunities but we need to be aware of the risks involved as it can also provide opportunities for pupils to access material they should not, or be treated by others inappropriately. We want to help our children and their families to make positive contributions online whilst developing strategies for keeping safe and being aware of their behaviour online.  

The online safety of our children is of paramount importance and something that we teach regularly through our computing lessons in school.  We also work closely with The Collegiate Trust to ensure that we are up to date with current advice and practice.
If you are concerned about your child’s online safety outside of school, please contact our Safeguarding Team at [email protected] 

Any illegal online activity should be reported to the police at CEOP (the National Crime Agency’s Child Protection Command) at www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

Useful Websites



Childnet offers help, advice and resources for parents and carers on a wide range of key online safety topics. Click on the logo above to be taken to their site.



Common Sense Media offers reviews and information about games, apps, TV shows and websites so that parents and carers can make informed decisions about the content their children are accessing online. Click on the logo above to be taken to their site.


CEOP is a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. It offers advice for parents and children from 4-7,  8-10, 11-13 and 14+. For 8-10 year olds, there is an online game to help teach children about online safety in a fun and informative way. Click on the logo above to go to their site. 


Cyber Choices is a national programme which aims to help young people about making the right choices in their online behaviour. Linked to Sussex Police, they run webinars for parents and carers and offer news articles and updates on cyber concerns.

Parental controls are an important tool in helping to keep your child safe online. If you haven’t done so already, please set up parental controls on all your children’s devices. For help on using parental controls and privacy settings, click on the logo above.




The NSPCC site offers a wealth of knowledge and advice on all aspects of internet safety – click on the logo above to be directed there. There is also a free helpline on 0808 800 5000 which parents can ring to get advice.


Report-Remove is designed to make it easier for children to report if they have been asked to send sexual images and videos and have them removed from social media platforms/websites. More information can be found by clicking the logo above. 






The UK Safer Internet Centre offers advice, tops and guides for parents and carers. Click on the logo above to go to the site. 

Popular Platforms

TikTok

Minimum age 13

  

Tik Tok is an app that is used to create short dance, lip-sync and talent videos to share.

TikTok contains content which is unsuitable for children to see and which can cause distress if accidently watched. Primary children should not have a TikTok account as it is very difficult to keep ownership or control of a video once it has been posted on the internet. If your child is using your TikTok account, it is important to be aware of what they post and who can view it; remember that personal information may be visible in the background.  Similar to other social media platforms, TikTok has a messaging function where users can send each other messages and videos. 

YouTube

Minimum age 13


YouTube is a video sharing website that allows users to share, view and upload videos.

YouTube contains content which is unsuitable for children to see and which can cause distress if accidently watched. Primary children should not have an account as it is very difficult to keep ownership or control of a video once it has been posted on the internet. If your child is using a YouTube channel, it is important to be aware of what they post and who can view it; remember that personal information may be visible in the background. YouTube also has a messaging function where users can send each other messages and videos.

What’s App

Minimum Age 16

WhatsApp is an instant messaging app which lets you send messages, images and videos in one to one and group chats.

WhatsApp is a common platform for online bullying and unkind messages. Group conversations usually take place between friends, but users can be added to a group where they don’t know everyone else. Therefore, it’s possible children could see or be contacted by someone they don’t know and could be vulnerable to content posted by this person. WhatsApp shows other users your location and once photos, videos or messages are shared, they can be copied, re-shared and posted anywhere online. 

Roblox

PEGI Age – 12+

Roblox is a gaming platform where you can create your own games or play games that other users have made.

Content is user-generated so it can mean that some games might not be appropriate for children and the game shows links to other apps which are not appropriate for children. In addition, all games are multiplayer and include a written chat feature, meaning that children can communicate and play with adults on the platform. Users can also make and receive friend requests during gameplay, meaning that they can chat to each other outside of the game.

Fortnite

PEGI Age – 12

Fortnite is a free online game, where users play against people from across the world and can talk and interact with each other as they play.

Fortnite features violence when players are in combat with each other. Children play against players of different ages from across the world and cannot turn the in game chats off or choose who they play against.

Grand Theft Auto

PEGI Age – 18+


Grand Theft Auto is an open world crime game that follows the story of different criminals. 

This game is wholly inappropriate for children. It is designed for adults and tries to be as extreme, and at times shocking, as it can be.