eSafety
In simple terms, online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
Being safe online means individuals are protecting themselves and others from online harms and risks which may jeopardise their personal information, lead to unsafe communications or even effect their mental health and wellbeing.
E-Safeguarding Your Child
Safeguarding students at Nunthorpe Academy extends to students using communication technology by way of our computer network. We work hard to ensure our students’ access to the world wide web is safe and level appropriate.
Our connection to the internet has filters in place to avoid access to inappropriate sites and material and is monitored regularly.
However parents and carers should be aware that if their child owns a smartphone without filters in place, they are able to connect to the world wide web through their own internet connection, bypassing our filtered system altogether.
If your child has a smartphone, then filters available from internet service providers or websites themselves should already be set up before the device is given to them, otherwise unfettered access to all that is available on the world wide web is free for them to explore. This can easily be communicated to other students’ devices which are also without any filtering.
E-Safeguarding is an important part of the Nunthorpe Academy ethos…
This section will help provide information and advice for parents and students about keeping safe online. It will be reviewed and updated in line with our Local Authority’s guidance, Effective E-Safety Practice for Schools (September 2012) and supports the Government’s vision for improving online safety (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools.)
As technology is playing a bigger part in our students’ lives and the access to uncontrolled internet content forever on the increase, it is becoming ever more important that we need to keep children safe from online threats through promoting E-Safeguarding. We need to ensure that we are all aware of the risks involved and are being safe when using the internet. We will continue to educate our students via their tutor groups’ time and through assemblies on the importance of safety online. We will also send out parental newsletters to keep you up to date with the latest advice.
It is widely accepted that technology enhances learning at Nunthorpe Acdemy and we are committed to ensure students get the most from it by encouraging responsible online behaviour. As part of our Computing and Life curriculum we have specific focus on becoming responsible digital citizens:
A digital citizen refers to a person who has the knowledge and skills to effectively use digital technologies to communicate with others, participate in society and create and consume digital content.
Digital citizenship is about confident and positive engagement with digital technologies. By educating students about digital citizenship, they will have the opportunity to develop an understanding about the following concepts:
- digital and information literacy
- internet safety
- privacy and security
- cyberbullying, relationships, etiquette and communication
- creative credit and copyright
- digital footprint.
Please click here to view a presentation created by CEOP that will hopefully educate students and parents on how to improve and maintain the safety of their own online presence both inside and outside of Academy life.
Using the Internet safely at home
Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to help you safeguard your son or daughter at home, it remains surprisingly easy for students to access inappropriate material including unsuitable texts, pictures and movies.
Locating the computer in a family area, not a bedroom, will enable you to supervise your son or daughter as they use the Internet. However, don’t deny them the opportunity to learn from the wide variety of material and games available on the Internet. Instead discuss with them some simple rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand their importance.
To keep safe they should:
- Use websites recommended by teachers and use a student friendly search;
- Be aware of who created a website and possible bias within information;
- Only email people they know (why not consider setting up an address book?);
- Exercise caution before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know;
- Use Internet chat rooms with caution and know how to block unwanted users;
- Not use their real name when using games on the Internet (create a nick name);
- Never give out a home address, phone or mobile number;
- Never email their school name or a picture in school uniform (even to a friend);
- Never arrange to meet anyone alone, and always tell an adult first;
- Only use a webcam with people they know and turn it around if it is not in use;
- Tell you immediately if they encounter anything they are unhappy with;
- Report concerns to the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP);
- Avoid using websites they feel they could not tell you about.
Go through the rules above with your son or daughter and pin them up near to the computer. It is also a good idea to regularly check the Internet sites they are visiting e.g. by clicking on History and Favourites.
Please reassure them that you want to keep them safe rather than take Internet access away from them. Create a dialogue and a relationship of mutual respect as far as the Internet is concerned.
For further information please visit the CEOP website.
