Online Safety
STOP!
If you are looking at this page because you think a child is at immediate risk of harm from online activity please phone 999 or contact the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (a National Crime Agency), by clicking on the link here.
If you need to enquire about online safety or to make a report about an incident online, click the CEOP button and if able to, notify our Online Safety Lead (OSL) via telephone (01728 605206) or email (leiston.admin@avocetacademy.org)
Mr Head is our named Online safety lead; if you have any concerns or questions please feel free to contact him.
Online Safety at Leiston
Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Leiston Primary School. It is our aim to create an Online Safe community that involves pupils, parents and staff. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and through regular training, parent sessions, an Online Safety curriculum and clear policies for all groups, we are supporting our children to become responsible users of technology which is constantly evolving.
We have extensive security measures in place in school to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any Online Safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our Online Safety Policy. Online Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.
Online Safety is not about banning children from using the Internet or technology but teaching them how to use it safely. Banning children from using technology often makes a child less likely to report a problem.
Children and young people are likely to be as good as, if not better than, their parents at using the Internet. However, being good at using technology does not mean they have the life-experience and wisdom to handle all of the situations they can come across.
Children and young people are prone to the same kinds of risks (including spam and scam emails, fraud and identity theft) as everybody else. However, there are also other, more sinister threats that may result from going online, such as inappropriate contact from people who may wish to abuse, exploit or bully them, and exposure to inappropriate material.
The Internet is an invaluable tool for life-long learning and communication, we just help our children learn to use this tool safely. Here at Leiston Primary School, we follow the SMART rules to keep safe online.
Staff Training
All our staff attend regular training in Online Safety which allows us to deliver training to our workforce, parents and carers.
Below you will find links to school policies; advice from The Department of Education and information about gaming restrictions to support you at home.
Online Safety at Home
As a parent, the technology children use every day can seem daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online - such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content.
Below you will find a number of websites and resources to help protect your children online. One of the most effective ways is to engage with your children regarding their use of the internet while at home. Here are some conversation starter ideas from www.childnet.com
- Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
- Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?
- Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.
- Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
- Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online?
Support for Younger Children
There are also some great books out there to support discussions about staying safe online at home. We have some copies in school, please contact the office if you would like to borrow a copy.
