Stay safe online

Online Safety is of vital importance in this technological age.  Not only are children using ICT in school, but also in their homes.  It is our job as parents / carers and educators to ensure that children know how to use the internet both successfully and safely. 

There is a world of quality educational resources available on-line and when used properly, these can effectively aid the learning of the children who use them. 

At CPS, ICT is important at all ages. The significance of Online Safety is reinforced throughout the school through the delivery of a planned and progressive preventative curriculum that equips pupils with the understanding and skills to become positive digital citizens.

Netiquette is a term that is used to describe acceptable and appropriate online behaviour. Some characteristics of this behaviour include:

• being courteous;
• being diplomatic;
• showing sensitivity to others (including cultural awareness);
• using acceptable and appropriate language;
• using acceptable and appropriate content; and
• publishing acceptable and appropriate content."

Taken from the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) Website: www.ccea.org.uk/primary_ict_accreditation/

Here are a few simple online safety rules and tips:

When you’re online, always keep your personal details private and think about what you say and do.

Always think- would it be OK to say this to the person's face if they were standing in front of me?

Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time so be careful.

Don’t share personal information online. This includes:

• your full name
• photos
• addresses
• school information
• telephone numbers
• places you like to spend time

Make sure you have set your privacy settings to restrict access to personal information.

When you use chat rooms, gaming parties or instant messenger, use a nickname instead of your real name.

To stop people accessing your online accounts, always keep your passwords secret and change them regularly.

Think about blocking people who send you nasty messages and don’t open unknown links and attachments.

Always tell an adult when you have seen or heard something online that worries or upsets you.  If you can, take a screenshot or keep the comment/ photo etc. on screen to help you explain and as evidence.

Always delete emails from people you don’t know, and don’t open attachments from people you don’t know. They might be nasty or contain a virus that can stop your computer working.

If someone is mean or sends nasty messages online, block them and report them.

If you see anything that upsets you online or if someone asks to meet you, flag it up with someone you trust.

If you are worried or unhappy about anything you see online, tell a parent or an adult you trust and they can help you. If you want to talk to someone else, you can call Childline on 0800 1111.

If a friend you have made online asks to meet you in the real world (offline) talk to your parents or a trusted adult about it. You should never meet up with someone you have met online without an adult going with you because it is dangerous.

If someone you know is being nasty to someone online, speak to a parent or trusted adult about it.

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The "Think You Know" website is divided into various age sections as well as areas for teachers & parents/guardians.  During our recent Online Safety visit from Martin Allen (PSNI) this website was noted as being very informative and useful. 

The 5-7 age range brings e-safety down to a basic level and provides audio readings of the contents of each page.  There are also activities, songs and crafts for children to access.

The 8-10 age range section provides more detailed information and uses various games and activities to get the e-safety message across.

There is an additional section for parents and teachers too.

The "Safe Start" website provides a quick, fun quiz on Online Safety for younger children. 

The BBC website is another useful source of information on Online Safety.  They have age-related information and activities, as well as many videos on the topic.  You can sing-along with Dongle and try his quiz if you're a younger internet user, or find out what internet experts and the stars of "Tracey Beaker" can teach you about e-safety if you're older.  There's also a Newsround special: "Caught in the Web" and lots of links to other sites detailing how to stay safe online.