Many of our pupils now have access to mobile Internet devices such as smartphones and tablets and whilst this can offer peace of mind for parents being able to contact their children, it may also pose a threat to the child’s privacy and online safety. 
  
Many social media apps should not be used by individuals under the age of 13 years old. However, we do understand that parents often give children permission to use these apps and may also use them themselves to contact their own children. The default setting for most of these applications is that profile information is public which means that anybody using the app may be able to find the user and contact them. If your child has a smart phone, tablet or any other device with Internet access, please make yourself aware of what apps they are installing and help them to set their privacy before they start using the app so that only people they know can contact them. 

The NSPCC website and internetmatters.org offer some good advice such as setting parental controls on all the devices that your children use and highlight some of the issues that children face online.  Other websites such as bewebsmart.com have some easy-to-follow user guides for setting up privacy and security settings on a wide range of apps.   

Some Useful Websites

E-safety at school - Do you know our rules for using the school computers and internet?

We use the school computers and Internet connection for learning. These rules will help us to be fair to others and keep everyone safe.

 

• I will ask permission before entering any Web site, unless my teacher has already approved that site.
• If I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive messages I do not like, I will tell a teacher immediately.
• I am aware that some websites and social networks have age restrictions and I should respect this.I will not look at or delete other people's files.
• I will keep my logins and passwords secret.
• I will only email people I know, or whom my teacher has approved.
• I will ask for permission before opening an email or an email attachment sent by someone I do not know.
• The messages I send will be polite and sensible.
• I will not give my home address, phone number, send a photograph or video, or give any personal information that could be used to identify me, my family or friends, unless a trusted adult has given permission.
• I will never arrange to meet someone I have only previous met on the Internet, unless my parent/carer has given me permission and I take a responsible adult with me.
• I know that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
• I understand that if I deliberately break these rules, I could be stopped from using the Internet or my email address