Online Safety at HTSJ

The internet gives children wonderful opportunities to learn, create, communicate and explore. However, being online can also bring risks, including upsetting or inappropriate content, unkind behaviour and contact from people they do not know.

At Holy Trinity and St John’s, we want our children to enjoy the many benefits of technology while developing the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to use it safely, responsibly and respectfully.

What we do in school

Online safety is an important part of our wider safeguarding work. We teach children how to stay safe online through Computing, PSHE and everyday conversations, using language and examples that are appropriate to their age and understanding.

Children learn to:

• keep personal information private and secure;
• communicate kindly and respectfully with others;
• think carefully about what they see, hear and share online;
• recognise when something does not feel right;
• know when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.

We supervise children’s use of technology in school and use appropriate filtering and monitoring systems on our school network and devices. These measures help us identify and respond to concerns, but technology alone cannot prevent every risk. Teaching children how to make safe choices, encouraging them to talk openly and responding promptly when something goes wrong are equally important.

If a child shares a worry with us, or we become aware of an online safety concern, staff follow our school safeguarding procedures. We listen carefully and without blame, consider the child’s individual needs and involve parents or carers where appropriate. Where necessary, we may seek support from other safeguarding agencies.

Working together with families

Children’s online lives do not stop at the school gate, so working together is one of the most effective ways we can help them stay safe.

Parents and carers can help by taking an interest in the games, apps, websites and videos their child enjoys, checking age guidance and privacy settings, using appropriate parental controls and agreeing simple family rules for using devices.

Regular, calm conversations about life online are particularly valuable. Encourage your child to tell you or another trusted adult if:

• they see something that worries, frightens or upsets them;
• someone is unkind to them online;
• they receive a message that makes them uncomfortable;
• someone they do not know tries to contact them; or
• they make a mistake or click on something they wish they had not.

Most importantly, children should know that they can always tell a trusted adult and they will be listened to and helped, not blamed.

If you would like support with parental controls, an app or game your child is using, or anything your child has experienced online, please speak to us. You do not need to wait until you are certain that something is wrong before asking for help.

If something happens online

If your child tells you that something has happened online, try to stay calm, thank them for telling you and reassure them that they are not in trouble.

Avoid responding to a worrying or threatening message. Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, keep a record of what has happened and use the reporting and blocking tools provided by the service. Please contact school if your child needs support or if the concern involves another pupil.

For a safeguarding concern, please speak to a member of our safeguarding team or email safeguarding1@htsj.school.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Concerns about online grooming or abuse can also be reported to CEOP. The CEOP Education guidance for parents confirms that concerns about a child being sexually abused online can be reported directly to CEOP or the police, and advises calling 999 where a child is in immediate danger. [ceopeducation.co.uk]

Useful support for parents and carers

Internet Matters
Practical, family-friendly advice about online safety, including devices, apps, games, parental controls and starting conversations with children. [internetmatters.org]

NSPCC – Keeping Children Safe Online
Advice for parents and carers on online safety, parental controls, talking to children and responding to online concerns. [nspcc.org.uk]

CEOP Education – Parents and Carers
Information and guidance to help parents protect their children online, including advice about online abuse, grooming and how to report a concern. [ceopeducation.co.uk]

Childline – Online Safety
Advice and confidential support for children and young people about worries or experiences online. [childline.org.uk]

Our message to children

If anything you see, hear or experience online worries you, tell a trusted adult. You will not be in trouble. We will listen and we will help.