The Teaching and Learning of Online Safety at Grove Vale
Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Grove Vale. We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, 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. This subject area is taught alongside our computing curriculum and also daily discrete discussions and learning. In addition to this, we ensure that we utilise all opportunities to embed online safety knowledge and values across the school throughout discussions and additional teaching and learning time such as assemblies and themed days. We aim for all pupils to be able to explain and demonstrate how to stay safe and behave appropriately as a valued digital citizen of the world.
Safety Team
As part of our online safety initiative in school, we have a "Safety Team", who promote online safety and support safeguarding within school. We have a number of children, who have remained Online Safety Champions from the previous year and had added to the team with a number of new members from each class this year.
The safety team meet multiple times per half term and aim to raise the profile of areas linking to safeguarding and online safety.
This year, Online Safety Champions helped to design the application form for member of the new "Safety Team".
Autumn Agenda
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Discuss steps taken in the previous years (areas we have improved and next steps for 2023/24).
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Discuss areas that we would like to focus on this year.
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Discuss the EYFS parent workshop.
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Discuss new structure of The Online Safety Team/Safety Team.
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Design of applications for the Safety Team.
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Discuss the Online Safety Team in assembly.
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Interview new applicants.
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Gather ideas for this year and The Grove Valer.
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Collect data to inform Spring next steps.
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Produce content for the Grove Valer.
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Discuss Filtering and Monitoring changes within school.
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Plan and produce content for the Christmas competition.
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Meet with the Safety Team (governors and SIPS in attendance).
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Share Christmas competition.
Autumn Challenge
We will soon be releasing our Autumn Half Term Challenge set by our very own Online Champions and Safety Team. Check back to find out information soon!
Safer Internet Day 2023:
We will be celebrating on 7th February with the theme:
‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online.’
This year, we are using the story "Hanni and the Magic Window" as inspiration for our Safer Internet Day. Click on the story name to access it online from the Childnet website. We emcourage you to talk to your children about elements of online safety they have discussed in class. Our Online Safety Champions have discussed the activities that they have thought about for children to do during the week and a challenge for them to complete at home.
Questions to Share at Home
Some of the questions we have spoken about in previous discussions and in discussions during the day are:
- What do we like about using the internet and being online?
- What do we not like about using the internet and being online?
- How do we stay safe at school and at home online?
- What do we use the internet for?
- What devices do you use that are connected to the internet?
- Where do you use your devices?
- What are some of the risks of being online?
- What would we do if we came across a problem or issue?
- How could we report about this? Who might we report to?
- How often/long (time period) are we online for during the week/during the weekend?
- How could we make using the internet better?
- What could we do to be safer?
The Online Safety Champion Challenge:
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Elements of Online Safety taken from the "Education for a Connected World" document.
Reporting
All of the children at Grove Vale are taught about the importance of being able to report any issues that they may have online. They discuss who to report to for different things and how vital it is to have an adult to be able to discuss any problems or issues that they may face online or in real life.
Working With Parents
We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the online safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.
Online Safety Activities in School
Social Media Guidance
Think U Know
Online safety for children of all ages
Kidsmart
Internet Matters
Online safety for parents and teachers
Gaming
If not managed correctly, children using modern computer game consoles can be exposed to inappropriate content and have contact with numerous strangers online. Please read our 'Dangers of Online Gaming' leaflet and use the PDFs below to set up parental controls on your consoles and digital devices online.
Internet Matters
Gaming How to keep your child safe whilst gaming
