At Dymchurch Primary School we are committed to the use of computer technologies and recognise the use of computers and the Internet as a valuable tool for learners of all ages.

Please see below for some of the latest resources to help keep your children safe online.

NSPCC Social Media Risks

Social Media Age Ratings

E-Safety during Lockdown

While children are accessing some learning at home, they will likely experience a lot more screen time than in their normal day-to-day lives. The Internet and online world can be a  wonderful place, with interesting videos, educational and fun games, virtual excursions, the opportunity to chat with and see friends, and much more.

Unfortunately, there is also another side to this online world, one that can creep up unexpectedly and pop onto your screen from nowhere.  

At school, we teach children what to do when something like that happens - Tell and show an adult - but children do not always do this, either because they do not recognise the danger for what it is, they might feel embarrassed or scared by what they have seen or they might think they have done something wrong and will get into trouble. This is where you come in.

It does not matter how computer-savvy your child is (and in many cases, children know an awful lot more about apps and computer games than we do!), it is still important that you monitor what they do. Below you can find information and guidance that can help you with that. We will update the resources regularly, so make sure you check this page every now and then.

Stay safe, at home and online!

E-Safety at School

We also acknowledges that computers and the internet do have the potential for inappropriate use and access to undesirable material and that we have a duty of care to protect our pupils.

All pupils use computer facilities, including the internet, as an essential part of the curriculum and to support learning opportunities within the school. There are well publicised concerns regarding access to material on the Internet that would be unsuitable for pupils. Whilst it is impossible to ensure that all pupils will not access such material, the school in liaison with Education in IT Services Kent (EIS) takes all reasonable steps to minimise a pupils access to unsuitable material. These include:

• Use of a filtered Internet Service to prevent access to internet sites with undesirable material.
• The requirement that wherever possible, all Internet access during school hours will be supervised by a member of staff or another responsible adult
• The following of Internet Rules which we share with parents and pupils.

Due to the increase and the accessible nature of the technologies we and the pupils use, they may at times find themselves on the receiving end of unwanted behaviour. This is an area where the school and parental partnership are vital. We as a school will support you and your children, you can in the first instant help by being vigilant when allowing your children on the internet, monitor what they are doing and encourage them to behave responsibly and kindly at all times. At school we inform children of safe practices, make them aware of what behaviours are acceptable and morally right, and support children when they are being targeted. We also model acceptable, thoughtful and responsible internet use through our own use of emails and photographs and the way we behave on the school website.  

E-Safety: Keeping your children safe at home

Many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems and tools to help you safeguard your child at home. Nonetheless it can still be surprisingly easy for children to access inappropriate material.  The following guidelines will help you to keep your child safe online:

• Set the security levels within Internet Explorer or other browsers.
• It may be worth considering locating the computer in a family area where possible (not a bedroom). This will enable you to supervise your son or daughter as they use the Internet.
• Ensure they only use websites you have chosen together or a child friendly search engine.
• Never give out any personal information about themselves, friends or family online including home address, phone or mobile number.
• Only email people they know and ask permission before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know.
• Never tell someone where they go to school or post any pictures of themselves in school uniform.

Perhaps go through these rules with your child and have them near the computer for your child to see.

For ‘Smart’ rules that children can learn through a series of cartoons and activities (appropriate for children aged 4 – 11) please follow the link to access these at home too.

http://www.childnet.com/kia/primary/smartadventure/default.aspx

http://www.kidsmart.org.uk

Many websites now include the 'report abuse' button. This can be used if you would like to report suspicious individuals or behaviour directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). CEOP will investigate your report and provide feedback to you.

IF YOU FEEL WORRIED OR THREATENED BY SOMEONE'S BEHAVIOUR ONLINE, YOU CAN REPORT IT BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK.

Just keeping up with children when it comes to new technology can be a huge task! To help you stay ahead of the game, and make sure your children are as safe online as they are in your back garden, click the links below:

• Supporting Children on the Internet

Is your child having problems with friendships online? Let us know in school, or check these links to see how you can help:

• STOP cyberbullying
• Kidscape Cyberbullying

Find out how to keep your facebook account private and secure:

• Facecrooks.com
• Facebook Checklist

More information for parents on online safety can be found by clicking here.