Online safety
Online safety at Grampian is all about measures to keep children, and adults working with children, safe while using digital technologies.
At school, this can include computers, laptops and tablet computers, and at home it can also include devices such as games consoles (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch), mobile phones and anything else which allows interactive digital communication.
The online environment is an integral part of children’s lives, so it is important that we work together as a school community to ensure that our children have a healthy relationship with technology and support them to use it responsibly. As a result, online safety runs through both our Computing and PSHE curriculum. Our staff also deliver ad-hoc lessons when they feel they are appropriate. Children at Grampian Primary Academy use the internet on a regular basis to support them with their learning.
As technology becomes more accessible, children are even more exposed to different information and media, and it has therefore never been more important to ensure children are kept safe online.
Here are some tips and useful links to help you to keep your children safe online:
- Make sure your child knows to keep personal information private (name, address, phone number, school, date of birth). Their screen name should not include their real name.
- Ensure all privacy settings are switched on.
- Choose a strong password.
- Regularly check who is on their ‘friends list’. Ensure they are only communicating with people who they know in real life and are not interacting with strangers.
- Encourage them to talk to you if something they see online makes them feel uncomfortable or upsets them.
- Always report any bullying and abuse directly to the website or app.
Useful websites:
- National Online Safety website has a wide range of information for parents https://nationalonlinesafety.com/
- Visit www.ceop.gov.uk/parents for more information.
- Visit the age-appropriate related sites: 5-7s (Hector’s World), 8-10s (Cybercafe) or watch one of the films on the 11-16s site.
- Useful video resources can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/stay-safe.
If you have any concerns about your child’s safety online, please contact the safeguarding team on 01332 765546 or email safeguarding@grampian.anthemtrust.uk.
If you require any support with ensuring privacy settings on mobile phones and tablets are secure, the school would be happy to assist with this and can provide the latest information about how to protect your child on different apps. Please ring 01332 765546 to make an appointment.
The NSPCC website also has lots of valuable information. Click on the link below to access this.
