Online Safety for Parents
Online safety is a ‘school’s ability to protect and educate pupils and staff in their use of technology as well as having appropriate mechanisms in place to intervene and support any incident where appropriate'. In simple terms, online safety is the ‘safe and responsible use of technology’.
To view the Online Safety Policy please reference the policy page on this website.
National Online Safety
The Telford Langley School have teamed up with National Online Safety (NOS) to offer parents free Internet safety training.
Main Risks or Problems
The main risks or problems associated with the internet and mobile technology are:
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Cyberbullying.
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Online reputation.
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Sexting.
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Social networking.
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Downloading.
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Gaming.
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Online grooming.
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Apps.
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Video chat and webcams.
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Location services.
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Premium rate content.
The link below to Childnet provides a full description of each, including key advice.
How Can You Help to Keep Your Child Safe Online?
It can be very challenging to discuss internet safety with your child when they are the ones in the know about modern technology. Unfortunately, some are not as savvy with internet safety and security as they should be. The best way you can protect your child is to establish a positive relationship with them around their life online. Talk to them – not just once but have ongoing conversations as part of your family life. Some ways to do this are as follows:
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Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to. Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used.
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Keeping the computer in a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience. They are also less likely to act inappropriately (i.e. via webcam).
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Help your child to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends — personal information includes their messenger ID, email address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family or friends. If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Remind them that anyone may be looking at their images and one day a future employer could!
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If your child receives spam/junk email and texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them. It’s not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don’t know. They won’t know what they contain — it could be a virus, or worse — an inappropriate image or film.
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Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it’s better to keep online friends online. They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult they trust.
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Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
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Teach your child how to block someone online and how to report them if they feel uncomfortable.
Parents' Guide to the Internet
Think you know have some interesting and useful videos that you could watch with your child to get them talking about online safety.
Click here for the Think U Know website
The following presentation will introduce you to the ThinkuKnow education programme, highlight some of the resources available for you and your children and remind you of some of the things you can do to keep your child safe online.
Click here for the parents’ section on their website
online safety Guides
Other Resources
A parents' guide to technology: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parents-guide-to-technology
A guide to parental controls: http://www.internetmatters.org/controls/interactive-guide/ and http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/parental-controls
A guide to how to set up safety features on the most popular social networks: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources/parents-and-carers/safety-tools-on-online-services/social-networks
A guide to social networks: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
NSPCC online safety: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/?mc_cid=633b69242f&mc_eid=a5aac1022b
Pokémon GO is a game built around the capturing, training and evolving of creatures called Pokémon – the NSPCC has issued advice on how to use the app safely: NSPCC - Pokemon Go advice
A range of articles for parents: http://parentinfo.org/articles/all
Information factsheet on Fortnite - Fortnite Information Sheet
Parent Info website: https://parentinfo.org/
Cyberbullying guide for parents and children - https://homeguides.co.uk/cyberbullying/
Information on online gaming - https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/news/online-gaming-privacy-safety/
Internet matters - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
London Grid for Learning - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
Net-aware - for support for parents and carers from the NSPCC
Parent info - for support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online
Thinkuknow - for advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online
UK Safer Internet Centre - advice for parents and carers
SafeToNet is an app for parents to help them safeguard their children from online risks like cyberbullying and sexting, whilst respecting their child’s rights to privacy.
‘Squid Game’ Trending across Platforms: What Parents Need to Know | National Online Safety
If you are concerned with your child’s online safety, please contact a member of the Telford Langley School safeguarding team.