E-Safety - An Introduction
E-Safety stands for Electronic Safety and is concerned with the risks of using technology to communicate. It was previously known as Internet Safety but has since changed its name to acknowledge that these risks are not solely limited to the use of the Internet. Instead safety encompasses a range of communications technologies such as text and picture messaging. It is also associated with (but not limited to) the use of personal computers, smartphones, tablets, internet-enabled televisions and computer games consoles.
Whilst we should always bear e-safety in mind, there are many benefits associated with using ICT and a growing number of web-based services that can enhance the learning experience. As such, it is not practical or beneficial to remove the use of these devices entirely. Nor is it advisable to block access to every commutations technology or social networking site. Instead we must ensure that students, staff members and parents are provided with sufficient training on how to use these services in a safe and responsible manner. It is also important that sufficient measures are put in place to intercept and address issues that arise.
E-Safety During COVID-19
During the current pandemic and our need to move to home-learning, please ensure that you, your child and your family are fully up-to-date with safer internet practices. Listed below are a range of websites offering practical advice, guidance and support:
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Safer Internet Day: 9th February is Safer Internet Day.
Due to lockdowns and other high-level restrictions, many children are spending more time online during the coronavirus pandemic. This new resource will help you keep children safe online at this difficult time. Follow this link to NSPCC resources. -
UK Safer Internet Centre: for advice from the UK Safer Internet Centre follow this link.
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Keeping Children Safe Online: for advice and resouces to keep your child safe whilst learning on follow this link. .
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Internet Matters: this site provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world. Follow this link
An easy way to make sure your child is safe online is to have the computer in a family room with the screen in view. Draw up house rules such as Internet usage hours and sites that are off limits. It’s also never best to download unknown files from the Internet unless you know it is from a reliable source. The majority of computers and other digital technologies all now have measures in place to protect your child’s safety online and these, coupled with your input, should mean our young people are better equipped when surfing the net.
E-Safety - An Introduction
E-Safety stands for Electronic Safety and is concerned with the risks of using technology to communicate. It was previously known as Internet Safety but has since changed its name to acknowledge that these risks are not solely limited to the use of the Internet. Instead safety encompasses a range of communications technologies such as text and picture messaging. It is also associated with (but not limited to) the use of personal computers, smartphones, tablets, internet-enabled televisions and computer games consoles.
Whilst we should always bear e-safety in mind, there are many benefits associated with using ICT and a growing number of web-based services that can enhance the learning experience. As such, it is not practical or beneficial to remove the use of these devices entirely. Nor is it advisable to block access to every commutations technology or social networking site. Instead we must ensure that students, staff members and parents are provided with sufficient training on how to use these services in a safe and responsible manner. It is also important that sufficient measures are put in place to intercept and address issues that arise.
Top Tips for E-Safety
Parental controls
Parental controls are a great way of controlling the content your kids can access. They allow you to block selected websites and email addresses by adding them to a filter list. They also prevent your kids from searching certain words. Child-friendly search engines such as Yahoo Kids or Ask Jeeves for Kids, lets your children search the internet safely as they filter out inappropriate sites and content. Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to find out any child safety measures they offer if you are not sure.
Setting ground rules with your child
It’s a good idea to set some ground rules with your child when thinking about their safety online and include their input when doing so. Here at FHS we teach our pupils to be digital citizens and speak to them about the potential risks online to help them understand the dangers. It would help us if you could tell your child:
- Not to give out any personal information to people online such as names, addresses, phone numbers, bank details, passwords
- To only visit chat rooms that are fully moderated / supervised
- Not to meet an online friend in person without you knowing/allowing them to do so
- Not to have an email/screen-name address that references their age or gender
- Be mindful when posting status updates, photos or video on social networking sites
- To tell you if they experience anything inappropriate that worries them
- Take regular breaks from the computer
E-Safety - The Resources
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) covers a wide range of resources including; web-based and mobile learning. It is also important to recognise the constant and fast paced evolution of ICT within our society as a whole. Currently the internet technologies children and young people are using both inside and outside of the classroom include:
- Websites
- Learning Platforms (MLE) and Virtual Learning Environments
- Email and Instant Messaging
- Chat Rooms and Social Networking
- Blogs
- Podcasting
- Video Broadcasting
- Downloading from the internet
- Gaming
- Mobile/Smart phones with text, video and/or web functionality
- Other mobile devices with web functionality
At Ogbourne CofE Primary we understand the responsibility to educate our pupils in e-Safety issues; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of the classroom.
Teaching & Learning with ICT
Internet use will enhance learning:
- The school will provide opportunities within a range of curriculum areas to teach e-Safety.
- Educating pupils on the dangers of technologies that may be encountered outside school is done informally when opportunities arise and as part of the eSafety curriculum.
- Pupils are aware of the impact of online bullying and know how to seek help if these issues affect them. Pupils are also aware of where to seek advice or help if they experience problems when using the Internet and related technologies; i.e. parent/carer, teacher/trusted member of staff, or an organisation such as Childline/CEOP.
- The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and will include filtering appropriate to the age of pupils.
- Pupils will be taught what Internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for Internet use.
- Pupils will be educated in the effective use of the Internet in research, including the skills of knowledge location, retrieval and evaluation.
Social Networking & Personal Publishing
- The school blocks access to social networking sites.
- Pupils and parents will be advised that the use of social network spaces outside school is inappropriate and or illegal (e.g. Facebook) for primary aged pupils.
- Pupils are advised to set and maintain profiles on such sites to maximum privacy and deny access to unknown individuals.
- Our pupils are asked to report any incidents of bullying to the school. School staff are advised not to add children, or parents as ‘friends’ if they use these sites.
Assessing Risks
The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. The school will audit ICT provision to establish if the e-Safety policy is adequate and that its implementation is effective.
Handling e-Safety complaints:
- Complaints of Internet misuse will be dealt with by a senior member of staff and reported to the e-Safety coordinator.
- Deliberate access to inappropriate materials by any user will lead to the incident being logged by the e-Safety coordinator
- Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to the Principal. Complaints and concerns of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with school child protection procedures. For example evidence of: inappropriate online relationships; a child watching adult material or any ‘18’ films on a regular basis; online/digital bullying, harassment or inappropriate image sharing etc.
- Pupils and parents will be informed of the complaints procedure.
Managing Emerging Technologies
- Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and a risk assessment will be carried out before use in school is allowed.
- The use of portable media such as memory sticks and CD ROMS will be monitored closely as potential sources of computer virus and inappropriate material.
- Pupils are not allowed to bring personal mobile devices/phones to school. Any phones that are brought to school are sent to the school office and kept there until the end of the day.
- The sending of abusive or inappropriate text messages or emails outside school is forbidden.
- Staff will use a school phone where contact with pupils is required.
Managing Filtering
- Has the educational filtered secure broadband connectivity through the SWGfL (South West Grid for Learning) and so connects to the ‘private’ National Education Network
- Uses the SWGfL filtering system which blocks sites that fall into categories such as pornography, race hatred, gaming, sites of an illegal nature, etc. All changes to the filtering policy is logged and only available to staff with the approved ‘web filtering management’ status
- Uses USO user-level filtering where relevant, thereby closing down or opening up options appropriate to the age / stage of the students
- Ensures network healthy through use of Sophos anti-virus software (from SWGfL) etc and network set-up so staff and pupils cannot download executable files
- Uses DfE, LA or SWGfL approved systems such as S2S, USO FX, secured email to send personal data over the Internet and uses encrypted devices or secure remote access were staff need to access personal level data off-site Blocks all chat rooms and social networking sites except those that are part of an educational network or approved learning platform
- Provides staff with an email account for their professional use, and makes clear personal email should be through a separate account
- Works in partnership with the SWGfL to ensure any concerns about the system are communicated so that systems remain robust and protect students
- Ensures the Systems Administrator / network manager is up-to-date with SWGfL services and policies / requires the Technical Support Provider to be up-to-date with SWGfL services and policies Managing emerging technologies