Online Safety

We know that many of our pupils use social networking accounts, mobile apps and online games even though nearly all of these have age restrictions.  We need to educate ourselves in order to keep our children safe when using devices online and so the links listed below will give you some advice.

Speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at school if you have ANY concerns regarding your child's online activity or malicious content that could affect them.

Virgin Media - Online safety testO2 Keeping kids safe onlineThe National College

Child Exploitation and Online Protection

Parent Article - What is the Internet of things (CEOP)NSPCC Online SafetyUK Safer Internet Centre - Parent guideParent ZoneGo Compare broadband parental controls

 

 

#Wake Up Wednesday is a national campaign by National Online Safety which has been designed to inform and help parents understand the dangers and attraction of different types of online activity. It covers everything from Social Media to the latest games, allowing parents to keep up with the ever-changing world of digital resources. 

Each week we share #WakeUpWednesday via the School Story on Class Dojo.

Previous #WakeUpWednesday can be found below:

Streamers

This free guide highlights the potential dangers children face when watching and engaging with streamers and the importance of staying informed so you can help mitigate the risks. 

Roblox

Roblox can be fun but it is not without its risks, including strangers, scams,  harmful content and more  This guide will give you the tools to ensure you child is staying safe when playing Roblox. 

Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is a new release letting players take on the role of various superheroes‍ and villains ‍in a competitive multiplayer shooter.  The game has a PEGI 12 age rating.  While most of Marvel’s content has been family friendly (and this game has been deemed suitable for children as young as 12), this title does still present numerous potential risks to children and young people  This guide will tell you how to protect its younger players. 

AI Virtual Friends

Supporting children to develop emotional literacy

Anger at a toy being stolen.  Sadness when losing a game.  Frustration when struggling in class.  All children will experience challenging feelings sooner or later.  Emotions are a natural part of life, and while youngsters should be allowed to express themselves, it’s important they also learn how to process these more difficult emotions in a mindful way.  Of course, many children may well be encountering these intense feelings for the first time, and it can be intimidating to skirt the line of helping them properly handle their emotions while also validating their experiences.  This guide, offers expert advice on how to support youngsters to develop emotional literacy. 

Managing Screen Time

While limiting our screen time may require a great deal of restraint, the effort can be rewarded with significant benefits to our physical and mental health. This #WakeUpWednesday guide has simple tips for helping to manage the amount of screen time in your household – encouraging the whole family to spend more quality time together and live in the moment.

TikTok

With approximately 220 million users under 18, TikTok is a social media titan among children and young people, but just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's free from risks. This week’s guide takes a fresh look at these safety concerns and lets you know how to keep young TikTok users safe.

Supporting Children to Return to Routine

For some children, the return to education at the end of the school holidays can be a difficult time for a variety of reasons.  The start of the new term comes with plenty of challenges, from social worries to the stress of ensuring they’re entirely ready for upcoming lessons and learning.  We can all support children as they head back to school.  This guide offers you expert advice on how you can be there for children and young people as they transition back into their school’s routine. 

Safety on Social Media

With social media’s ever-growing popularity among children and young people, it’s important for adults to keep themselves apprised of the associated risks and help youngsters to navigate these platforms in a safe, responsible manner.  However, it can be difficult to know exactly how to protect children and young people while they use these apps. This free guide offers you expert tips on supporting youngsters to enjoy the features of social media while avoiding the risks.

Safety over the festive season

The holiday season, marked by Christmas and New Year, brings joy and togetherness but also presents unique safety challenges for children, families and educators.  From busy holiday shopping, traveling and family gatherings to managing digital activity during school breaks, staying safe during this period required heightened awareness.  This guide offers practical tips to help families and educators maintain a more secure and fulfilling festive period.

Whatsapp

WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging platform on the planet, with over two billion users (forecast to become three billion by 2025), across more than 180 countries. The majority of those people (70%) open the app at least once a day – but what exactly are they seeing? Contact from strangers, fake news and convincing scams are all among the service’s well-documented hazards.   According to Ofcom, WhatsApp is used by more than half of 3- to 17-year-olds in the UK (including one in three from the 8–11 bracket), despite its 13+ age restriction. If your child hops onto WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends or family, our updated #WakeUpWednesday guide to the service contains the key details you’ll need to support them in doing it safely.

Shopping Platforms

Everyone loves an online deal!  The trouble is, scammers know that too – so they often lurk around online marketplaces, hoping to fleece the unwary. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has tips for staying safe on shopping apps. 

Township 

City-building games can be relaxing  … unless your virtual town’s foundations are built on hard-earned real-world cash!  This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re profiling the popular game Township and highlighting potential #OnlineSafety risks . 

Helldivers 2

 This week, we're plunging head-first into the popular shooter, Helldivers 2 - exploring the risks posed to younger players and providing some #OnlineSafety tips.

Group Chats

This weeks free online safety guide focuses on group chats.  It highlights a number of risks such as bullying, inappropriate content and unknown members.

Healthy Relationships

Flourishing friendships can be an important aspect of a happy life - but what does a healthy relationship look like? This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re offering expert advice on encouraging healthy friendships among children and young people. 

Pop up ads

 "CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU’VE WON OUR MONTHLY PRIZE DRAW!!!"  Look familiar?  These ads can be especially risky for children and young people, who may not yet be able to look at such marketing with a critical eye. However, our free online safety guide will educate you on pop-ups, their associated risks, and how to safeguard yourself and young people from this phenomenon.

Palworld

For all its colourful presentation and similarities to other beloved child-friendly titles, Palworld is far from risk free  This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re exploring the #OnlineSafety risks of this breakout gaming success. 

Fairplay and friendly competition

With #Euro2024 about to start, a little competition could be great fun  provided nobody crosses the line  This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide lets you know how to nurture a healthy competitive spirit in children and young people, encouraging them to play fair. 

Promoting Physical Wellbeing

With the Euros in full swing, plenty of children are taking to the pitch  but perhaps we can keep them active all year round  This #WakeUpWednesday,  we’ve put together some expert tips on promoting physical wellbeing for young people.

Gambling

You may have noticed an increase in betting adverts lately – courtesy of the Euros Gambling, however, poses a risk to young people all year round.  This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re letting you know how to safeguard children from the hazards of gambling.

Sharing intimate images

With the NCA issuing an alert to educators across the country about the rise of “sextortion” online, the need to safeguard children and young people from this harmful practice has only increased  This #WakeUpWednesday, we offer insight into the risks of being exposed to and sharing intimate images.

Smartphone Safety Tips

Smart phone – smart user?  A whopping 98% of over-12s in the UK now have their own phone, with many younger children also using one regularly. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has expert tips to help them avoid #OnlineSafety risks.

Creating family rules for devices

Devices such as smart phones and computers are everywhere in the modern world, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to safeguard children in their own home  This week, we’re offering advice on how to set effective rules for using devices in your household. 

Lego Fortnite

With every expansion and update, Fortnite is built-up brick-by-brick  but certain pitfalls will likely always remain  This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re looking at LEGO Fortnite, detailing its #OnlineSafety risks and exploring how to keep young players safe. 

Final Fantasy XIV

With every expansion and update, Fortnite is built-up brick-by-brick  but certain pitfalls will likely always remain  This #WakeUpWednesday, we’re looking at LEGO Fortnite, detailing its #OnlineSafety risks and exploring how to keep young players safe. 

In Game Chat

Chatting to others in a game can be a great way to connect as you enjoy your hobby together  It’s not always quite so wholesome, however. Our newest #WakeUpWednesday guide offer expert advice on the risks of in-game chat!

Fire Safety

Remember, remember...5th November is fast approaching, but of course fire safety isn't only important on Bonfire Night.  Help children recognise the potential risks with a timely reminder of fire safety essentials in this week's #WakeUpWednesday guide.

Horror films and age ratings

With older children in particular, it can be difficult knowing how to manage their increasing interest in more mature content – including horror films, in many cases – let alone knowing how best to safeguard them from inappropriate material. Our free guide offers expert advice not only on the risks of exposure to horror films and other potentially upsetting content, but also on preventing young viewers from seeing this material or protecting them from being too deeply affected by it if they do.  

Emotional Resilience

Even as adults, it can be tricky to handle disappointments and setbacks and to move on from difficult emotions. That’s why we should do all we can to nurture those skills from an early age. 

Choose Respect

Anti-Bullying week’s theme this year is ‘Choose Respect’.  When disputes arise among children, insults and rudeness can sometimes follow and it is vital for us to show them a better way.  Working with the Anti-Bullying Alliance, this weeks ‘#Wake up Wednesday gives you tips and advice.

Cycle Safety

Cycling can be a fun and healthy way to pass the time for children and young people. However, the risk of injury can be high.  It is essential that children are taught how to stay safe while out and about.  This free guide offers expert advice on how to practise safe cycling. 

Spending and Saving

Managing money can be a difficult skill to master, even for adults.  As such, it is incredibly important for children and young people to learn all they can before they reach an age at which they’ll be responsible for their own finances.  Teaching strategies for money management is a fundamental life skill which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Snapchat

Recent user numbers for the messaging app Snapchat currently sit at approximately 800 million and figures from data gathering company Statista indicate that roughly 20% of those users are under 18.  That’s a lot of young people participating in this sprawling social media platform, many of whom are potentially unaware of the associated risks.  This guide will tell you how to safeguard younger users and give you in-depth knowlegde of the online safety risks posed by this platform. 

Mental Health & Well-being Apps

It can be difficult to know how to keep young users safe as they navigate these services, but this week’s free guide provides expert advice on how to do exactly that, while also breaking down the specific safety concerns of mental health and wellbeing apps.