Internet Safety
As part of the new National Curriculum for 'Computing' every child is taught to be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
With the Internet becoming very much a part of everyday life, it is vital that we, as a School and you as a parent/carer, keep our children safe online. On this page there are links to websites that can give you lots of information to help you to protect your child online.
Is there something bothering you?
Is there something keeping you awake at night?
Worried about yourself, a friend or a family member?
Or is there something that simply just does NOT FEEL RIGHT?
Then we are here to help!
Please email us with any and all of your concerns and worries and we will do our best to help.
worrybox@stmargaretsce.rochdale.sch.uk
Information for Parents
Below is a number of short articles designed to help parents review their child's online behaviours and ensure you are well equipped and well informed to keep all our children safe when online.
If parent's would like us to cover particular apps, topics or behaviours in future newsletters, please email the Headteacher.
Parents can find a range of information and resources on the Think U Know website. Click on the image below.
Squid Game - rated 15+
Have you heard of Squid Game? It’s one of Netflix’s latest releases about a group of people participating in a series of children’s games in the hope of winning a large cash prize. It has been rated 15 by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The BBFC focus on helping you choose what is appropriate for your family to watch.
You can find out why Squid Game has been rated 15 by visiting the BBFC:
Due to its current popularity, content from this show can be found on numerous other platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Roblox, so your child may come across this show without even viewing it on Netflix. Content may range from trailers of the show or content that other people create such as memes, reenactments and games.
Parents can read media coverage of the show and it's impact on children here.
There is so much that we can do online nowadays including playing games, chatting with others, watching TV or sharing our videos/photographs. Being online can be great but it’s important that we set boundaries for our children to keep them safe whist they explore being online, develop their digital resilience and understanding of what to do if anything negative happens when online.
So how can we help keep our children safe? We can start by checking age restrictions/ratings. It’s important that we follow these to ensure that what our children are doing or seeing online is appropriate for their age.
Where can I find age ratings?
Films: The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rate films. This page includes a link to a ‘Parents' Guide to Age Ratings’: CBBFC.Resources
Video games: PEGI provides age classifications for video games. PEGI considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty. It is important to note that PEGI do not take into consideration user generated content within games (such as on Roblox) and the chat facilities within games.
Apps: Check the individual age ratings within the relevant app store. We also recommend that you download any apps and play them yourself to check their suitability.
Social Media networks: All social media networks have a minimum age rating; they are all at least 13+.
What else can I do?
• Explain the importance of age ratings to your child.
• Go online together and let your child show you what they are accessing online.
• Set up parental controls on your broadband, devices, consoles and on any individual apps that your child is using. This will reduce the chances of them accessing anything unsuitable as well as viewing inappropriate content for example whilst on YouTube.
• Chat to your child regularly about what they are doing online and as always, remind your child that if anything is worrying them about what they see online then they should tell you or another trusted adult.
What if my child has seen something inappropriate?
This is a useful article from Thinkuknow explaining what to do and who to contact if you have any concerns:
One thing that came to our attention is that over half KS2 children use some form of Social Media where the appropriate/legal age is 13. Is your child one of them?
Please open the following link to view the results
| KS2 Internet Safety Questionnaire Results | Parent Guardian Online Radicalisation Information and Support |
| Supporting young people online | Internet parent fact sheet |
Online Learning Code of Conduct
Online Learning Code of Conduct for EYFS & KS1
Online Learning Code of Conduct KS2
Online Learning Code of Conduct for Parents
Select Poster to view
Online challenges of Internet Safety
Report images that you want to be taken down.
Broadband Provider parental controls
Advice on settings for all Broadband providers.
For advice on making a report about online abuse.
For support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online.
https://www.internetmatters.org
Many parents rely on schools to help keep them up to speed and help deal with any online issues. There are lots of easy ways that you can encourage parents to discover the information they need, please see below some downloadable materials to help you.
www.childnet.com/kia/primary
Childnet's Know IT All for Primary Schools has been especially designed for primary school staff to help them understand important e-safety issues and how to help young pupils get the most out of the internet.
www.childline.org.uk
This section on the ChildLine website provides invaluable information for children and young people on keeping safe online. There is also a section with advice on what to do if they find themselves a victim of cyber bullying.
www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
getsafeonline
This site helps parents and carers to keep up with and supervise children’s online activity and helps them to understand the risks and plan ahead before allowing children access to the internet.
UK Safer Internet
The UK Safer Internet Centre, and its partners, delivers a wide range of activity to promote the safe and responsible use of technology
Smart Phone Safety
Tiger Mobiles site advising on how to keep children safe on the internet, it is relevant for more than just smartphone use
Safer Internet Day
Educational Resources for Safe Internet Day
