Some useful information on online safety:

We can not keep children in a perfectly safe computing bubble. We need to give them the skills to engage with computing and computers. We need to make them 'E-Safe' (safe online).

We start in the Reception class, the children’s first year at school. We talk about who they are, how old they are, where they live; how this is their personal information and they need to keep it safe from others. 

As they move through school, learning how to be safe online is revisited, revised and expanded upon. Each computing unit of work has some element of online safety embedded within it.

You can help your child – and yourself – become more 'E-Safe' by keeping up to date with technology and with the issues surrounding their use.

Remember that Facebook, Beebo, MySpace and similar sites have a minimum age requirement of 13 years of age for those signing up for an account. They are there to help keep your children safe. With this in mind our pupils should not have an account or be using these sites.

Also, at home, the advice is to keep your computers and mobile devices in a shared area so that you can keep in touch with what your children are doing on them and also how much time they are spending on them.

Talk to your children about what sites/games they are using so that you can keep up to speed with them and also provide them with appropriate guidance as and when they need it.

Parent Info is a collaboration between CEOP and Parent Zone

Parent Zone was founded in 2005 and has a track record of providing information, support and advice to parents. In recent years, The Parent Zone's work has focused on the impact of digital technologies on families. We provide information, resources and training for parents and those who work with them. 

CEOP is the child protection command of the National Crime Agency.  CEOP reaches over three million children and young people a year through its 'Thinkuknow' education programme and regularly conveys its vital online safety messages to over 100,000 practitioners (such as social workers, teachers and police officers) registered to their network, who cascade these messages directly to children and young people.

www.parentinfo.org/

CEOP is the government’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre, if you wish to report some inappropriate content or behaviour then click on the button and follow the directions on their pages.

A new industry backed website for parents is now available which gives you a good understanding of issues affecting children today. It is definitely worth a look:

www.internetmatters.org

Another website which has great "how-to" guides has been set up by Vodafone. It looks at Digital Parenting and has lots of tips on keeping our children safe using parental controls and lots of open discussion. 

http://www.vodafone.com/content/parents.html

This is a website full of games, videos and other interactive content from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe

This is a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”.

http://www.childnet.com

http://www.digitallyconfident.org/parents

Online Safety Websites

The following web links provide a wealth of information for you and are provided by industry experts. Some of the sites focus on bullying but as part of this they also focus on online behaviours.(disclaimer: We have no control over the content of external websites.)

CBBC Own it: a website full of games, videos and other interactive content from the BBC.

Childnet International: a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”.

UK Safer Internet Centre: Here you can find out the latest advice on how to use the internet and new technologies safely and responsibly. Also find a range of practical resources, news and events focussing on the safe and responsible use of the internet and new technologies.

Thinkuknow: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre’s online safety site, where you will find advice and tips for children, adults and professionals of all ages.

Kidscape: A charity set up to deal specifically with bullying and child sexual abuse.

Bullying UK: A website aimed at providing guidance and support in regards to bullying.

Vodafone Digital Parenting: Vodafone have got together with a range of industry experts to provide you with helpful information and guidance on a range of e-safety topics.

Parent Zone: Parent Zone offer a range of guides, information, news and support for parents that focus on helping children and teenagers navigate the online world.