Online safety

The internet has changed all of our lives, particularly our children’s. For parents and carers this opens up a whole new world of things to be aware of. For many of us, this can all be a bit too much.  You might be struggling to keep up with the things your child is doing online, you might wonder whether what they are doing is safe, and you might also be thinking how can I be as good a parent online as I am offline?  The NSPCC advise following four simple rules:  Talk about staying safe online.  Explore their online world together.  Agree rules about what is okay and what’s not.  Manage your family’s settings and controls.  We encourage you to use the links below which aim to make following these rules simple.  Even if the only search engine you use is a pair of binoculars, do not despair. Here you’ll find practical tips and simple guidance to help to you keep your children safe online.  St Mark’s is a member of The National Online Safety website (https://nationalonlinesafety.com/): the world’s most comprehensive online safety hub.  This subscription includes access for all our parents to advice, webinars, explainer videos and guides including the latest advice on a weekly bulletin called ‘WakeUpWednesdays’ (What parents need to know about….) .  We will be running online safety sessions for parents again this year; further information and dates will be detailed in newsletters.  We also have Online Ambassadors, online safety reps from Year 6, who can help parents too.    For advice and support on setting up parental controls, adjusting privacy setting, understanding social networks and more – call NSPCC online safety helpline 0808 800 5002 where online safety advisers will help and answer questions.   

Online Safety and Social Media Awareness

We are increasingly aware that many primary school children now have access to social media apps, sometimes at ages younger than the platforms recommend. While social media can provide opportunities for creativity and connection, it also comes with risks such as exposure to inappropriate content, online bullying, and potential contact with strangers. Children at this stage are still developing the skills needed to safely navigate these digital spaces.

As a school, we are committed to working in partnership with families to promote safe and responsible online behaviour. Parents and carers can play a vital role in this by:

  1. Engaging your child in regular conversations about what they do online.

  2. Making sure your child knows they can talk to you about anything online that worries them—without fear of getting into trouble.

  3. Ensuring your child understands how to report online issues, and that doing so is always the right thing to do.

To support you in keeping your child safe online, we’ve provided some useful links below with guidance, resources, and tips specifically for parents and carers.

https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/parents/

www.internetmatters.org