Welcome to our school website - please come in and take a look around. Do you know our four school values? They are respect, curiosity, kindness and determination.
Online Safety
Discord - what to be aware of- for parents
Loneliness online
Group chats
Phone Scams
LEARNING ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY AT HOME
It is very important that our families understand how to stay safe online as schools across the country are now closed to most children.
PARENTS AND CARERS HELPSHEETS
If you haven’t already, the first thing to do is read the family helpsheets - there is one for primary and one for secondary.
These contain key online safety advice and links to excellent resources, as well as support services.
During social isolation, the video conferencing platform Zoom has become a very popular way for friends and families to keep in touch. The following helpsheet will enable parents to help their children to safely use zoom. Click here - Zoom
Support to help keep my child safe online
Below are some useful links to help parents and carers:
- Thinkuknow (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online)
- Internet matters (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- Parent info (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- LGfL (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- Net-aware (support for parents and carers from the NSPCC)
- Let’s Talk About It (support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation)
- UK Safer Internet Centre (tips, advice, guides)
What do we teach children about Online Safety at VPPS?
The internet is full of useful, interesting and exciting information and opportunities and we like to promote this to our children. Sometimes going on the internet is like going somewhere new and different. As a result, it is important to make sure VPPS children understand the potential risks. Therefore, we teach VPPS children that:
- It’s good to make sure you’re with an adult and they know where you are on the Internet, just as in the real world.
- Sometimes there can be things that you are unsure about, making you feel uncomfortable, and to make sure you chat to an adult when this happens.
- Don’t share personal information with strangers.
Useful Starting Points For Parents
If you feel concerned, or wish to ensure that your child feels safe whilst using the Internet, there are several things you can do, such as:
- Create an honest and open dialogue about the Internet and using different devices.
- Show children you trust them and they can trust you to understand that mistakes will be made and solutions can be found.
- If your child wants to use a new device, app or website, talk it through and agree rules together.
The online world develops very quickly and is constantly changing. We periodically update parents with advice on particular apps, social media, websites or games. Some of this information can be found at the links below.
If you have any questions or concerns about online safety, please speak to our online safety lead teacher Laura Mullen or contact the office.
Guide for Parents to Support Screen Time
Online safety tips and information
Unique Voice Resources from Parent Workshop
NSPCC Net Aware
Net Aware was set up to help parents to know how to keep their children safe online, developing a guide, primarily aimed at parents of 8-12 year olds, about the social networks, apps or games with an interactive element that children use most frequently.
Working with their online safety partner, O2, the purpose of the Net Aware guide is to provide parents with the information they need to understand their child’s online world and help them keep their children safe online. The guide encourages parents to explore what other parents and children are saying about the sites, and form their own views about the appropriateness of popular sites.
Other useful links below: