Benenden Church of England Primary School

Online Safety

Introduction

As educators we value the use of the internet as a teaching and learning tool; indeed internet use is part of the statutory curriculum and widely regarded as an important tool for learning.  The internet is a part of everyday life for education, business and social interaction and we feel the school has a duty to provide students with quality internet access as part of their learning experience. However we are well informed of the safeguarding issues around the use of the internet and have developed a school policy for this to help children to learn how to evaluate internet information and to take care of their own safety and security on-line.   At the heart of children learning to be safe online is Google's 'Internet Legends' programme.

 

Our Online Safety Policy also includes an agreement for children to sign and parents to endorse outlining our online safety rules.

We ensure all of our children are aware that they can report any material they come across on the internet or any use of the internet which worries them via CEOP which is the National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and On-line Protection centre and parents and families can use this too to make a report.  We recommend parents keep informed of e-safety issues and understand their child's use of the internet, whatever their age, and parents can find useful information to help them with this through Thinkyouknow (8-10 years old) and Thinkyouknow (5-7 years old).

There is a really good resource called 'Digital Parenting' which is produced by Vodafone monthly and covers many questions or concerns about how to help your child use the internet (which is a wonderful resource) safely. Please follow the link here to the online magazine.  There is also a wealth of additional material in these other websites as recommended by KCC's Online Safety Officer:

Useful Links

These are our school's online safety rules: Please do discuss these regularly at home with your child:

EYFS & KS1

  • I only use the internet when an adult is with me and I have been given permission
  • I only click on links and buttons when I know what they do
  • I will only use websites that an adult has chosen
  • I keep my personal information and passwords safe online 
  • I only send messages online which are polite and friendly
  • I will never give out personal information or usernames and passwords
  • I only click on online links and buttons when I know what they do. If I am not sure, I ask an adult first.
  • I will never arrange to meet anyone I have only communicated with online or I don’t know
  • I know the school can see what I am doing online
  • I only use software and applications on school laptops and IPads that my teacher has asked me to use  
  • I always tell an adult/teacher if something online makes me feel unhappy or worried
  • I will either close the laptop lid or turn over the IPad if I see anything I am uncomfortable with
  • I can visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk to learn more about keeping safe online
  • I have read and talked about these rules with my parents/carers.

KS2

Online Safety Rules that I will follow in our community:

Safe

  • I will behave online the same way as I behave in the classroom.
  • I only send messages which are polite and friendly
  • I will only post pictures or videos on the internet if they are appropriate, and if I have permission
  • I only talk with and open messages from people I know, and I only click on links if I know they are safe 
  • I know that people I meet online may not always be who they say they are. If someone online suggests meeting up, I will immediately talk to an adult 

Learning

  • I always ask permission from an adult before using the internet.
  • I only use websites and search engines that the teaching staff has chosen.
  • I use the 10:10 Primary Federation devices for the 10:10 Primary Federation work unless I have permission otherwise.
  • If I need to learn online at home, I will follow the Federation’s home learning guidance below.

Trust

  • I know that not everything or everyone online is honest or truthful
  • I will check content on other sources like other websites, books or with a trusted adult 
  • I always credit the person or source that created any work, image or text I use

Responsible

  • I always ask permission from an adult before using the internet 
  • I only use websites and search engines that my teacher or teaching assistant has chosen 
  • I use school computers or IPads for school work, unless I have permission otherwise
  • I understand that I am not allowed to bring my own personal device including mobile phone into school.
  • I keep my personal information safe and private online
  • I will keep my passwords safe and not share them with anyone
  • I will not access or change other people’s files or information
  • I will only change the settings on the computer if a teacher/technician has allowed me to 

Understand

  • I understand that the school internet filter is there to protect me, and I will not try to bypass it. 
  • I know that my use of school computers/Ipads and internet access will be monitored
  • I have read and talked about these rules with my parents/carers
  • I can visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk and www.childline.org.uk to learn more about being safe online
  • I know that if I do not follow the school rules then:
    • Either Yellow or Red on school behaviour system.
    • Restricted use of technology in school.
    • Only supervised use of technology in school
    • Restricted use of the internet in school.

Tell

  • If I am aware of anyone being unsafe with technology, I will report it to a teacher.
  • I always talk to an adult if I’m not sure about something or if something happens online that makes me feel worried or frightened
  • If I see anything online that I shouldn’t or that makes me feel worried or upset, then I will minimise the page and tell an adult straight away.  I will immediately shut the laptop lid or in the case of an IPad, turn off the screen or simply turn it over screen down.