E-Safety
Keeping our children safe in the digital world
At St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our priority. In today's digital world, children use technology to learn, communicate, play and explore. While technology offers many exciting opportunities, it is important that children understand how to use it safely, responsibly and respectfully.
We want our children to enjoy the benefits of technology while developing the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to recognise risks, make safe choices and know what to do if something online makes them feel uncomfortable or worried.
Online safety is everyone's responsibility, and we believe that working in partnership with parents and carers is essential in helping our children stay safe.
How do we teach online safety?
Online safety is embedded throughout our curriculum and forms an important part of our safeguarding provision. Through our Computing curriculum and wider teaching, including PSHE, we help children develop an understanding of how to use technology safely and responsibly.
Across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, children learn about:
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Privacy and security: keeping personal information safe and understanding the importance of passwords.
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Online relationships and communication: treating others with kindness and respect, including when communicating online.
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Cyberbullying: recognising unkind or harmful behaviour online and knowing how to seek help.
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Digital footprints: understanding that online actions can leave a lasting record.
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Online content and information: recognising that not everything online is true, appropriate or trustworthy.
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Self-image and identity: understanding how online content can affect our feelings, confidence and view of ourselves.
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Copyright and creativity: respecting other people's work and using digital content responsibly.
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Online risks: knowing what to do if we encounter inappropriate content, suspicious messages or contact from someone we do not know.
Children are taught to speak to a trusted adult if something online worries them, makes them uncomfortable or feels unsafe.
We also reinforce the importance of being Ready, Respectful and Safe whenever children use technology.
How do we keep children safe in school?
We take our responsibility to safeguard pupils online seriously. Children are supervised when using technology, and our school has arrangements for filtering and monitoring internet use to help protect pupils from harmful or inappropriate content.
Staff promote safe and responsible use of digital devices and respond to online safety concerns in line with our safeguarding procedures. We regularly review our approach to ensure that online safety remains an important part of keeping children safe.
How can parents and carers help?
Children's online experiences do not stop at the school gates. Games, social media, video-sharing platforms, messaging apps and online communities can expose children to content or conversations that they may not yet have the maturity to understand.
We recognise that keeping up with new apps, games and online trends can be challenging. Our aim is to support families, not to judge or criticise.
There are several simple steps that can make a real difference:
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Talk regularly: ask your child what they enjoy online, which games they play and who they communicate with.
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Know what they are accessing: check the apps, games, websites and platforms your child uses, including their age ratings.
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Use parental controls: make use of device settings, content filters and age restrictions to help manage what your child can access.
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Keep communication open: reassure your child that they can tell you if something online upsets, frightens or confuses them.
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Agree clear boundaries: establish rules around screen time, online communication, sharing photographs and using devices at bedtime.
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Think before sharing: remind children not to share personal details, passwords, photographs or their location with people online.
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Stay informed: keep up to date with emerging apps, online trends and the potential risks associated with them.
Please also remember that children may access technology while in the care of other family members or friends. Sharing online safety advice with everyone who cares for your child can help provide consistent messages and protection.
What if my child sees something inappropriate online?
If your child encounters inappropriate content, receives an upsetting message or experiences unkind behaviour online, try to remain calm and reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling you.
Listen to their concerns, help them block or report the content or account where appropriate, and seek advice if you are worried about their safety.
If you have concerns about something that has happened online involving pupils or affecting your child's wellbeing, please contact the school and speak to your child's class teacher or our Pastoral and Safeguarding Lead. We will work with you to consider the appropriate support and next steps.
Useful online safety resources for parents and carers
We encourage families to use trusted sources of advice to help children enjoy technology safely.
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Internet Matters – practical advice on parental controls, apps, games and age-appropriate online safety: https://www.internetmatters.org/
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Childnet – advice and resources to help children stay safe and respectful online: https://www.childnet.com/
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UK Safer Internet Centre – online safety advice and guidance for families: https://saferinternet.org.uk/
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NSPCC – support for parents and carers on keeping children safe online: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
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CEOP Education – information about online relationships, harmful contact and how to report concerns about online sexual abuse: https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/
For further advice about keeping your child safe online, please contact school. We are always happy to work alongside families to help children navigate the digital world safely and confidently.
Together, we can help our children be Ready, Respectful and Safe – both online and offline.
Useful Links
Please take some time to look through the links provided below. They contain plenty of advice and tools to help keep your children safe when online.
Managing Parental controls on smart phones and other devices:
https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/smartphones-and-other-devices/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/
Think u Know - Resources for parents/carers and children
Vodaphone Digital Parenting - advice for parents to help keep children safe online.
Google Safety Centre - advice and tools to help protect yourself and your family online.
Know it all - Childnet international - It's designed to really help you as a parent or carer keep up to date with how children are using the internet, and support them in using these new exciting services safely and responsibly.
BBC Stay Safe - Interactive games and videos for the children