Online Safety

Intent: Our vision for Online Safety

At St Teresa’s our vision is “to shape our children to become the leaders of tomorrow”, providing a rich and purposeful education and equipping pupils with the tools to make conscience decisions on how to use the internet safely.

We believe that is important that children and young people understand the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology. We aim to:

Be aware of e-safety concerns safeguarding children and young people in the digital world.
Provide a deeper understanding of how to use new technologies in a positive way.
Help children to realise that online safety is less about restriction and more about education about the risks as well as the benefits so we can feel confident online.
Support children and young people to develop safer online behaviour both in and out of school.

Implementation: How we teach Online Safety

Our Online Safety curriculum is taught from EYFS to KS2 and works in collaboration with our Computing curriculum which follows the National Curriculum. As a school, we insure that Online Safety is taught within computing lessons, following the comprised schemes of Twinkl PlanIt, SWGfl Digital Literacy & Citizenship and Ten:Ten Resources. This enables the curriculum to be taught effectively and purposefully as it covers all key areas within the subject.

Online Safety has cross curricular links with other subject areas, especially when using technology to access the internet. This enables pupils to have the skills to research using the World Wide Web, whilst also thinking critically about what actions to take if a concern arises online. Online Safety also falls under the umbrella of the schools Safeguarding policy. Online Safety is also covered within PSHE using Ten:Ten Resources.

Online Safety lessons are incorporated into weekly Computing lessons that take place within the Computing Suite using desktop computers, or within classrooms using laptops or iPads. During these lessons, pupils are able to build upon their previous Computing and Online Safety knowledge by learning about the different ways to not only keep themselves safe online, but, also how to be a responsible digital citizen.

Impact:

By instilling a strong foundation of online safety practices, pupils learn to protect their personal information, recognize potential risks, and make informed decisions when engaging with technology. They understand the importance of creating secure passwords, safeguarding their privacy, and practicing respectful online behaviour. Moreover, our online safety teaching fosters critical thinking skills, enabling children to critically evaluate online content and distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation. This early education empowers them to be proactive digital citizens, promoting positive online interactions, and mitigating the risks associated with cyberbullying, online harassment, and inappropriate content. Ultimately, the impact of our online safety teaching in primary school extends far beyond the classroom, shaping responsible internet users who are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the digital age.

Curriculum strengths:

We equip children with essential knowledge about potential online risks, privacy protection, and responsible digital behaviour.

Pupils are empowered to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to stay safe online.

We promote critical thinking skills, enabling children to evaluate online content, identify potential threats, and differentiate between reliable sources and misinformation.

We emphasise the importance of responsible digital citizenship, encouraging children to engage in positive online interactions, practice empathy, and respect others' privacy and boundaries.

Our community & families:

Our Parents and Carers receive weekly school newsletters via email about upcoming events, school news, online safety articles and additional updates/content. Our virtual earning platform, Microsoft Teams is used to encourage the use of computing to complete home learning tasks. We regularly have online safety workshops for parents. We support families on an individual basis if they are having issues around online safety at home by providing support, resources and technical assistance.

Useful Resources

Please see a range of resources below that you may like to use to support your child with Online Safety

Childnet

https://www.childnet.com/

NSPCC

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Ripple

www.ripplesuicideprevention.com

Internet Matters

www.internetmatters.org

CEOP

www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/