Online Safety (E-Safety)

At St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School, we take online safety extremely seriously and are committed to helping children use technology responsibly, safely and positively both in school and at home.

All pupils and parents are asked to agree to the school's Acceptable Use Policy, which outlines the expectations and responsibilities for safe internet use.  Please refer to the Acceptable Use Policy at the end of this page.

Each year, we take part in Safer Internet Day, during which every class explores different aspects of online safety and digital wellbeing. E-safety is also regularly featured in our school newsletters to help keep parents and carers informed about current online risks, trends and advice.

If you have any concerns about your child's online safety, please contact the school office by telephone or email. We are always happy to offer support and guidance.

Telephone: 01952 386160
Email: admin.stpatricks@blessedec.co.uk

Online Safety Tips for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children stay safe online. Here are some simple but effective ways to support your child:

• Know what your child is doing online and who they are communicating with.
• Ask your child to show you how apps, games and websites work, particularly those you have not used before.
• Keep computers, tablets and other devices in family areas where online activity can be supervised.
• Talk regularly about online behaviour and remind children to treat others with respect.
• Encourage your child never to share personal information online, including:
  • Full name
  • Address
  • School details
  • Email address
  • Mobile phone number
  • Photographs or videos of themselves, family members or friends
• Help children understand that anything posted online may be copied, shared or viewed by others.
• Remind children never to open emails, messages, links or attachments from people they do not know.
• Explain that not everyone online is who they claim to be and that online friendships should remain online.
• Ensure children know that they should never arrange to meet someone they only know through the internet without a trusted adult present.
• Encourage children to tell a trusted adult immediately if something online worries, upsets or frightens them.

Helpful Online Safety Resources

Parents and carers may find the following resources useful:

• CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection)
• Thinkuknow
• NSPCC Online Safety
• Internet Matters

We also recommend downloading the CEOP "Click CEOP" Safety Button, which provides quick access to online safety advice and reporting tools for both children and adults.

Working together, we can help ensure that all children use technology safely, responsibly and confidently.

Click here to subscribe to 'Wake Up Wednesday'. You will receive weekly emails with fantastic, helpful resources linked to social media, games, safe internet use and much more. They provide excellent conversation starters with your children.