Online Safety
'All schools will be required to put in place strengthened measures to protect children from harm online - including cyber bullying, pornography and the risk of radicalisation' Department for Education.
Link to CEOP website for reporting any information: https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safer-By-Design/safety-centre/
Parent Zone’s parent guides cover reporting to different apps and platforms
Contact NCA-CEOP if you are worried about child sexual abuse
You can talk to Childline anonymously on 0800 1111
If you see sexual images or videos of someone under 18 online, you can report to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
If you’re worried about radicalising content, you can get help on the Educate Against Hate website
You can report material promoting extremism and terrorism through the government’s online reporting tool
Shout’s crisis messenger text service provides advice 24/7. Text PARENTZONE to 85258. More information on the Shout page on Parent Zone
What is Online Safety?
Online safety, digital safeguarding and cyber safety are closely linked terms that all refer to ensuring that children use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential that pupils develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world with confidence. Alongside understanding traditional online risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming and exposure to inappropriate content, pupils are also taught about emerging issues including artificial intelligence (AI), misinformation, privacy, digital footprints, online scams, phishing, password security and the importance of protecting personal information.
Cybersecurity forms an integral part of our computing curriculum. Children learn how to keep themselves and their devices secure by creating strong passwords, recognising suspicious emails and messages, understanding the importance of software updates and learning how to report concerns. As pupils begin to encounter AI-powered tools in their daily lives, they are taught to use these technologies safely, ethically and critically. They learn that AI can be a valuable tool for learning and creativity but that its outputs should be questioned, checked for accuracy and used responsibly.
Online safety extends beyond the internet to include digital devices, mobile technology, online communication, gaming platforms, social media and emerging technologies. Our curriculum equips pupils with the knowledge to enjoy the many benefits of technology while recognising potential risks and making informed, responsible choices. Online safety education is embedded throughout the computing and PSHE curriculum, ensuring that key messages are revisited and developed in an age-appropriate way across all year groups.
Our Online Safety Policy works alongside other key school policies, including Behaviour, Anti-Bullying, Safeguarding, Computing, PSHE, Data Protection, Cybersecurity and Acceptable Use, providing a whole-school approach to keeping children safe in an increasingly digital world.
This plan links to UNICEF Rights and Responsibility: Articles 16 & 17
Article 16: Right to privacy
“Every child has the right to privacy. The law should protect the child’s private, family and home life, including protecting children from unlawful attacks that harm their reputation …”
Article 17: access to information from the media
“Every child has the right to reliable information from a variety of sources, governments should encourage the media to provide information that children can understand. Governments must help protect children from materials that could harm them.”
Online Safety Curriculum Statement
We ensure we embed online safety in all computing lessons and also cross curricular lessons when appropriate. The children use technology everyday so it is imperative they are safe. Children keep their passwords for curriculum websites and computer logins private and they understand
they must log out of each session to ensure their information is kept secure.
Online Safety Links
Most of us can use the internet to help with our education and to play games. We can use it to stay in touch with our friends and family by email, instant messaging and social media. We can download the latest music, stream movies and TV shows and watch live events from across the world. The Internet has become such an everyday tool, that it is difficult to imagine life without it.
However, it is important that we know how to use it safely and understand the dangers we face when we don't use it responsibly. On this page, you will find a number of very helpful links for both children and parents/carers, to ensure that everybody can always stay safe online.
Links for Children
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Visit CEOP's website to find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what’s good, what’s not and what you can do about it. You will also find an interactive button on our front page which will take you directly to this site.
http://kidsmart.org.uk/ Learn more about the Internet and how to become a SMART Surfer.
http://www.childnet.com/young-people/primary/ Find the latest information on the sites and services that you like to use, plus information about mobiles, gaming, downloading, social networking and much more.
Links for Parents and Carers
http://www.internetmatters.org/Internet Matters is an independent, not-for-profit organisation to help parents and carers keep their children safe online. Supported by leading experts, they have developed this online portal specifically designed for all parents and carers to access simple, easy and practical advice so that you can make confident, informed choices when it comes to children’s online safety.
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware The NSPCC's straightforward, no-nonsense advice will untangle the web, and show you how you can be just as great a parent/carer online as you are the rest of the time. The Internet is a great place for children to be. Being Share Aware makes it safer.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Common Sense is dedicated to helping children thrive in a world of media and technology. They aim to empower parents by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools to help you to harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all childrens’ lives.
http://www.childnet.com/young-people/primary/Home to 'Know IT All for Parents', which is a unique interactive e-safety guide for parents and carers produced by Childnet International. It's designed to help you as a parent or carer keep up-to-date with how children are using the internet, and support them in using these new exciting services safely and responsibly.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/ CEOP's website aims to make online parenting simple.
Parent Info provides high quality information to parents and carers about their children's well being and resilience. The aim is to help parents and carers to help their children be discriminating, web-literate and resilient.
St Oswald's School receives award for Online safety
St Oswald's CE Primary School is proud to have once again successfully maintained the Online Safety Mark, recognising our continued commitment to promoting a strong culture of online safety across the school.
To apply for the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark, schools have to reach a series of benchmark levels when they complete the online self review. The evidence is then verified by experienced Assessors.
The prime benefit of using the review and applying for the Online Safety Mark is that it does not focus on the individual aspects of online safety such as technological solutions, but instead it integrates online safety into school policy and the curriculum, challenging teachers and managers in the school to think about their provision and its continual evolution.
Schools are expected to show that they have provided a high standard of online safety education and awareness for all staff , pupils and also for parents and carers, to ensure that these users of the new technologies can be safe online – whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile phones or other handheld devices.
Following their visit the Assessor reported:
Areas of strength and good practice.
Leadership is strong with clearly defined roles of responsibility for the DSL, Governors, Online Safety Lead, Computing Lead, Digital Leaders, external technical support provider and others.
The online safety curriculum appears to help children to understand how to stay safe online.
The school uses the Kapow curriculum, which draws on the Education for a Connected World Framework. It is supported by externally provided sessions and through Safer Internet Day activities.
Pupil voice is active and valued and the pupils contribute through the Digital Leader Team. By sharing their experiences they contribute to the development of the online safety education lessons. They lead assemblies and also contribute through peer-led activities.
The school is aware of the need to keep up to date with developments in digital technologies and it was good to hear of the work that has taken place regarding the safe use of AI in an educational context.
This award is due for renewal in 2029.
Online Safety Champions
Article 1 (definition of the child) Everyone under the age of 18 has all the rights in the Convention.
Article 5 (parental guidance and a child’s evolving capacities) Governments must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents and carers to provide guidance and direction to their child as they grow up, so that they fully enjoy their rights. This must be done in a way that recognises the child’s increasing capacity to make their own choices.
Article 12 (respect for the views of the child) Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.
Article 16 (right to privacy) Every child has the right to privacy. The law should protect the child’s private, family and home life, including protecting children from unlawful attacks that harm their reputation.
This year, we have developed our online safety group to include 'Digital Leaders'. The group consists of 2 children from each Key Stage 2 year group. This year we have delivered assemblies, helped to develop online safety rules and facilitated discussions with our own classes to help our teachers with new apps and technology we are using. We also enjoyed regular meetings with Miss Ledgerton to discuss new technologies and ideas for relating to online safety in school.
If you have any worries or issues you would like to discuss with school please don't hesitate to book an appointment to speak with you child's teacher or a member of the senior leadership team.