Online Safety week
We organise an Online Safety Week annually which coincides with Safer Internet Day (usually the second week in February). During the week, all children learn about how to use technology responsibly and stay safe online. In KS2, children learn how to keep themselves safe from sexual abuse and exploitation by developing skills in identifying and avoiding risk, learning how best to protect themselves and their friends and knowing how to get support and report abuse if they do encounter difficulties. All topics have been clearly mapped out to ensure that sensitive topics are taught in a sensitive and age appropriate way with clear progression.
Reception
The cartoon follows the adventures of two children – ‘Lee and Kim’ – who are playing an online game on a computer where they meet several animals. Children will learn to:
- Understand that people are not always who they say they are.
- Aware of, and able to use, the rules for keeping safe on the internet.
- Realise the importance of politeness and courtesy both on and off the internet.
- Understand the importance of sharing any concerns they may have when using online technology with a responsible adult.
Year 1 and 2
In Years 1 & 2 children are introduced to Hector the dolphin and his underwater friends through a number of short cartoons. Children will learn to:
- Understand that personal information is as valuable online as it is offline, and should therefore not be shared without a parent or teacher’s permission.
- Understand that not everyone they meet is automatically trustworthy.
- Identify the characteristics of people that are worthy of their trust and who can help them make positive choices to keep them safe.
- Identify situations in which it is wise to turn to a trusted adult for help
- Understand that their emotions can be a powerful tool to help them assess unsafe situations.
- Understand the importance of checking with an adult before participating in the online environment.
In Years 3 to 6, children use a range of resources during Online Safety Week and in their Computing lessons throughout the year. Pupils will learn to:
- Think about whether the information they are being asked for is necessary and will be used properly.
- Be aware of the differences between private and personal information that can identify them uniquely, and general information.
- Become aware of the safety issues of giving away personal information online and how it is possible to get into difficulty.
- Recognise irresponsible behaviour.
- Be able to identify types of potentially risky messages and will be able to take appropriate action.
- Learn about the possible consequences of making the wrong choice when putting together an online profile.
- Be able to explain that there could be risks with using e-mail but there are actions they can take to keep themselves and their computers safe.
- Be aware of some of the potential risks associated with chat rooms and instant messaging and they will have a range of strategies, such as an online persona, that they can use to keep themselves safe.
- Explain what privacy settings are used for and how they can help.
- Recognise when something encountered online ‘doesn’t feel right’.
- Identify and resist pressurising and manipulative behaviour.
- Explain the possible consequences of sharing without consent.
- Identify appropriate people to turn to for help.
- Explain what to do if someone tries to pressurise or manipulate them.
If you would like more information, then this can be found on our website: www.greatwood.lancs.sch.uk
Click on Curriculum and then Online Safety.
Alternatively, you can contact Mr Ross by email (head@greatwood.lancs.sch.uk) or make an appointment with the school office if you have any questions or wish to see the resource we use.
Additional information and resources
Every child receives a copy of ‘Your child’s online world – a guide for parents’. Children in KS2 also take home a copy of ‘A parents’ guide to being Share Aware’. These booklets have been written by the NSPCC and O2.
For advice and support on setting up parental controls, adjusting, privacy settings, understanding social networks and more, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety or call 0808 800 5002
We work closely with the NSPCC in school who deliver assemblies to KS1 and KS2. Children in Years 5 & 6 also take part in a workshop and parent sessions are organised annually.
Schools have an important role in teaching children to protect themselves from all kinds of abuse, including online abuse and our annual Online Safety Week is one part of our approach to keeping children safe online.
Many thanks for your continued support.