Online Safety
Helping our children stay safe, happy and confident online
Technology is an important part of our children's lives. It provides wonderful opportunities for learning, creativity, communication and entertainment, but we also know that children can face risks when using the internet, games, apps and digital devices.
At Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School, online safety is an important part of our wider safeguarding work. We want our children to develop the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need to make safe, responsible and positive choices online.
We recognise that online safety is not simply about keeping children away from technology. It is about helping them understand how to use it safely and responsibly, and knowing what to do if something goes wrong.
Our approach reflects the expectations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and Department for Education guidance on teaching online safety. Online safety is taught in an age-appropriate way through our curriculum and reinforced through our wider safeguarding provision.
🚨 Report an online safety concern
If you are worried about something that has happened to your child online, or your child has seen or experienced something that concerns you, please let us know.
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If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, please contact the appropriate emergency or safeguarding service.
What do we teach our children?
We teach children that being safe online is about making good choices, recognising risks and knowing when to ask for help.
Through our Computing, PSHE and wider curriculum, children learn to:
- Be kind and respectful online and understand that online behaviour can have a real impact on other people.
- Protect their personal information and understand why they should be careful about what they share online.
- Recognise that people online may not always be who they say they are.
- Understand what to do if something makes them feel worried, uncomfortable or unsafe.
- Talk to a trusted adult when they need help.
- Recognise and respond to online bullying and understand how to report and block inappropriate behaviour.
- Think critically about information online and understand that not everything they see, read or hear online is true.
- Understand the importance of privacy, passwords and account security.
- Make safe choices when using games, apps and online platforms.
- Understand that images, messages and information shared online can be copied, saved and shared with others.
- Understand that online activity can affect their wellbeing, including sleep, relationships, confidence and mental health.
- Know how to seek help and report concerns when something goes wrong.
Our teaching is age and developmentally appropriate and reflects the changing digital world in which our children are growing up.
The Department for Education's Education for a Connected World framework supports schools in developing children's knowledge and skills for life in a digital world.
Our children are taught the importance of asking for help
One of the most important messages we give our children is:
If something online makes you feel worried, upset or uncomfortable — tell someone.
Children are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult at school or at home. They will never be in trouble for telling an adult about something that has worried them online.
We encourage parents and carers to have regular, open conversations with their children about what they are doing online. You do not need to be an expert in technology — being interested, listening and creating an environment where your child feels able to talk to you is one of the most effective ways to support them.
Online safety at home
We recognise that children may use devices, games, apps and online platforms at home that are not used in school.
Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children develop safe digital habits.
You may wish to:
- Talk regularly with your child about what they do online.
- Know which games, apps and platforms your child uses.
- Check the age rating of games, apps and online services.
- Use parental controls and appropriate privacy settings.
- Help your child understand what personal information should not be shared.
- Encourage children to tell you if something online worries them.
- Establish sensible boundaries around screen time, particularly before bedtime.
- Remind children that people online may not always be who they claim to be.
- Encourage children to think carefully before posting, sending or sharing anything.
- Keep devices used by younger children in shared family spaces where appropriate.
The online world changes quickly, so we regularly share information and guidance with families through our school communications.
What should I do if something goes wrong?
If your child tells you about something that has happened online, stay calm and listen.
Try to:
Listen – give your child the opportunity to explain what happened.
Reassure – let them know that they have done the right thing by telling you.
Keep evidence – where appropriate, keep screenshots, messages, usernames or other information that may help when reporting a concern.
Report – use the reporting tools available within the relevant app, game or website.
Tell us – if the incident involves another child, affects your child's wellbeing or raises a safeguarding concern, please contact school.
If you are concerned that your child may be at risk of abuse or exploitation, please follow our Safeguarding information and seek appropriate professional support.
Filtering and monitoring in school
We take reasonable and proportionate steps to provide a safe online environment for children when they are using school devices and networks.
Our school uses appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements to help protect pupils from accessing harmful or inappropriate online content and to identify potential safeguarding concerns.
Filtering and monitoring are important parts of our wider safeguarding arrangements, alongside teaching children how to use technology safely and responsibly.
Our filtering and monitoring arrangements are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain appropriate for our school and our pupils.
The Department for Education sets standards for filtering and monitoring in schools and emphasises that these arrangements should form part of schools' safeguarding provision.
Online safety and safeguarding
Online safety is an integral part of safeguarding at Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School.
Concerns about a child's online activity may include, for example:
- cyberbullying
- inappropriate or harmful content
- online grooming or exploitation
- inappropriate contact with others
- pressure to share images or personal information
- gaming-related risks
- harmful or abusive online behaviour
- misinformation or manipulation
- online radicalisation or extremism
- concerns about a child's emotional wellbeing linked to their online experiences.
We take concerns seriously and respond in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.
For more information about how we keep children safe, please visit our Safeguarding page.
Useful advice and support for parents and carers
We have gathered some trusted organisations and resources which provide practical advice about keeping children safe online.
Childnet
Practical advice for children, young people, parents and carers about staying safe online.
Internet Matters
Advice about children's online safety, including gaming, social media, parental controls and online wellbeing.
Thinkuknow
Online safety advice from the National Crime Agency's CEOP Education programme.
NSPCC
Advice for parents and carers about keeping children safe online and talking to children about difficult subjects.
UK Safer Internet Centre
Advice and resources to help children and families use technology safely and responsibly.
Google Family Safety
Guidance and tools to help families manage children's use of Google services and devices.
Useful guides for families
We regularly share guidance with parents and carers about current online trends, apps, games and technology.
These may include guidance on:
- popular games and platforms
- social media and messaging apps
- gaming and in-app purchases
- online friendships
- parental controls
- smartphones and tablets
- artificial intelligence
- managing screen time
- online bullying.
We will continue to update these resources as new technologies and online risks emerge.
Our Online Safety Policy
Our Online Safety Policy forms part of our wider safeguarding arrangements and sets out how we promote safe and responsible use of technology across school.
You can read our current policy on our Policies page.
For further information about safeguarding at Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School, please visit our Safeguarding page.
