SCPS promotes the safe use of the internet for children. We use commercial web filtering software to restrict which sites can be accessed from within school and all our children are taught internet safety rules in their Computing lessons.
Here are our rules for using the internet
Online safety rules
Here are some useful websites which give parents and children advice on using the internet safely.
Childnet resources for parents and carers
How to set parental controls on your home internet connection
Guides for everything children use online
Parent guides for social media, online games and everything else children might see online including cryptocurrency, ChatGPT and other AI, streaming, smart devices and lots more.
UK government ParentWise
From the UK government including a section about online safety.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media rate movies, TV shows, books and more so parents/carers can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their children.
Smartphone safety tips
Expert tips on using smart phones safely for young people.
Tips on managing screen time
Gaming with people you don’t know IRL
NSPCC Keeping children safe online
Apple guided Access
How to lock your ipad or iphone to an specific app for children to use your device safely.
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command.
Harmful online challenges and online hoaxes
A hoax is a deliberate lie designed to seem truthful, and online challenges generally involve users recording themselves taking a challenge, and then distributing the video through social media channels, inspiring or daring others to repeat the challenge. Some children, young people (and adults) will struggle to identify harmful online challenges and online hoaxes.
Playing Fortnite
Fortnite is a popular strategy survival game combining Minecraft style resource collecting and building with team based survival shooting games. We would also like to remind you that in the UK the Video Standards council rate Fortnite as PEGI 12 for frequent scenes of mild violence. It is not suitable for persons under 12 years of age but if you do allow your children to play please take steps to ensure they’re staying safe online.
Social Networking
We know some children of Primary School age use social media and have accounts despite the recommended UK minimum age of 13. In the EU most of these are restricted to under 16s.
Below are some popular social media sites terms and conditions.
5 things parents need to know about TikTok
Our school does NOT advocate our pupils having these accounts and is committed to promoting the safe and responsible use of the Internet and as such, we feel it is our responsibility to raise this particular issue as a concern. Whilst children cannot access social networking sites at school, they could have access to it on any other computer or mobile technology outside school. Websites such as TikTok/Facebook/Snapchat/Instagram/X (Twitter) offer amazing communication and social connections, however they are created with their audience in mind and this is specifically 13 years old and above. Parents and carers have a responsibility to make sure children are aware of the issues around using these sites at an inappropriately early age.
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