The internet is a fantastic place overflowing with knowledge, games and communities of people, and, just like pupils across the country, the pupils here at Westwood spend a great deal of time using the internet within school and at home.
We value computing within our school and encourage our children to experience different ways of accessing modern technology. From laptops to tablets, our children are able to access a wealth of resources and explore different technologies to suit their learning styles.
This is why it is important pupils learn how to be safe when browsing online and becoming members of online communities. The safety of our children is of paramount importance to the school and something that we monitor and revisit regularly.
We know that parents and carers will also be very concerned that their children are protected and safe when using the Internet, both in school and at home. We have added some documents below that contain useful information on how to keep your children safe, tips on how to initiate conversations around the subject of safety and specific advice on online gaming. We have also included various links that will direct you to further information from external organisations.
We also encourage parents to set up internet filtering and parental controls on their home internet and any mobile phones or tablets. Follow the link above for more information of how to do this.
In school, children learn about E-Safety through a scheme of lessons and through with assemblies. We also encourage parents/carers to talk to their children about how to behave safety when online, to ensure pupils remain safe when browsing at home.
Select the button below to report harmful content. You can find full details about this service in the text further down the page.
.JPG)
RHC button explainer
The RHC button is an asset of SWGfL, a charity working internationally to ensure all benefit from technology, free from harm.
The button has been developed to offer anyone living in the UK a simple and convenient mechanism for gaining access to reporting routes for commonly used social networking sites, gaming platforms, apps and streaming services alongside trusted online safety advice, help and support. It also provides access to an online mechanism for reporting online harm to the RHC service for those over the age of 13 where an intial report has been made to industry but no action has been taken. RHC will review content in line with a sites’ community standards and act in a mediatory capacity where content goes against these.
Children under 13 years of age are encouraged to tell an adult that they trust about what has happened and to ask for their help in reporting this going through our how we can help resource together.
RHC also have advice and links to reporting routes for other online harms people may come across or face, such as impersonation, privacy violations and intimate image abuse.
The RHC button provides a gateway to the RHC reporting pages, an area of the RHC website offering:
- links to reporting routes on commonly used sites for 8 types of online harm
- help, advice and support on what to do if experiencing or witnessing harm online
- signposting to industry partners reporting forms and the ability to report legal but harmful content directly to RHC for further investigation
Reporting to RHC
Reports can be made 24/7 through the online reporting forms and helpline practitioners will review and respond to reports within 72 hours between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Reports can be made to RHC by anyone over the age of 13. SWGfL operates 3 helplines and to be sure you’re getting the right support take a look at the Helpline flowchart to find out who can best support you.
Reporting to CEOP
Our children know to report any inappropriate content, contact or conduct they encounter online to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) by visiting this page and clicking our report button below.
CEOP also has a great website of information on E-Safety for parents.
Please click the link above to visit the page.
Some links to more information:
- Think U Know – containing internet safety advice for those aged from 5 to 16, along with parents and teachers, this site is produced by CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).
- Vodafone Parents – Vodafone have lots of fantastic practical advice for parents. You can also read their ‘Digital Parenting‘ magazine.
- Kidsmart – An award-winning internet safety programme for children.
- Know IT All – lots of useful advice for keeping yourselves and your children safe on the Internet.
- Bullying UK – Information and advice about bullying for children, parents and schools.
- Kidscape – An organisation which helps to prevent bullying and child abuse.
- Childline – ChildLine is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK
Below are some documents which can help support you at home with activities and advice from the team at UK Safer Internet
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety. Each year we cover an online issue or theme that speaks about the things young people are seeing and experiencing online. Created in consultation with young people across the UK, this year Safer Internet Day will be focusing on the issue of scams online and for young people, how to protect themselves and others, as well as what support is available to them.
Safer Internet Day 2025 will take place on the 11th of February 2025, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘
This Safer Internet Day we will assess the real scale of this issue and allow young people to share their experiences and ideas on how to tackle the problem. We’ll build on the important work being done to raise awareness of issues such as online financial sextortion and we’ll also consider the future of scams, answering questions such as:
How is changing technology like generative AI going to impact the approach of scammers?
What role can the government and internet industry take to tackle this threat?
And what changes would young people like to see to help protect themselves moving forward?
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
Top Tips for Parents and Carers
Have a look at the tips and links below with some suggestions on how to get you started and help you to stay safe and positive online. You and your family can #PlayYourPart in creating a better internet by…
Having conversations without judgement.
- Whether by playing games, watching videos, or doing things your child enjoys, spending time together online is a great way to start conversations about the online world and how they’re finding being a part of it.
- It is important to ask questions and take an interest in what your child enjoys online.
- An essential part of having this open dialogue is to not judge, even if their behaviour or life online isn’t what you wanted or expected. This ensures that your child feels they can come to you if ever they make a mistake or experience a problem online.
Knowing where you can learn more about their favourite apps and games.
Websites like Common Sense Media or The Family Gaming Database can be invaluable sources of information. When your child starts talking about a new game or app, why not do some research into the reporting and blocking options available? Then you can help your child if they come to you with an issue.
Getting support if things go wrong.
There are lots of organisations who are there to support you and your family if something has gone wrong. The Report Harmful Content website can help you with issues such as cyberbullying, impersonation and threats. You can report worrying behaviour towards children to CEOP. Find out more on Childnet’s Get Help page.
Reassuring your child that whatever happens online, you are there to support them.
Let your child know that the best way to address any problem they have online, is to tell a trusted adult immediately. For example, this might include someone sending them a friend request; an online message; telling them to visit a specific website, or app; or asking them for their personal information. Reassure them that if anything happens online that they are unsure about, or makes them feel worried or upset, they can come to you for help.
E-safety is an important issue which affects us all. Below are some links to come websites that you might find useful when facing ICT safeguarding issues.
Keeping safe online
The NSPCC have drawn together lots of advice for parents, including Being Share Aware, MineCraft Safety Advice, and how to stay safe using apps. The information can be found here:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/partners/nspcc-o2-online-safety-partnership/
For those who speak or read in another language.
Just click the link below to a poster that is translated into many languages.
Top Tips for Preventing Cyberbullying.
There are many unknowns about cyberbullying. Online bullying estimates vary widely, from 4.5-45%. It’s hard to get a clear number on how pervasive the practice is. Some people self-report. Others never utter a word about it. Also, it’s not always clear exactly what constitutes cyberbullying.
In our guide, we aim to remedy some of those unknowns. This resource includes:
- What constitutes bullying
- Different types of bullying
- Who cyberbullies, and why?
- The signs of cyberbullying
- The dangers of cyberbullying
Because cyberbullying (all forms of bullying, in fact) can be detrimental to mental health and may raise the likelihood of resorting to substance abuse (among victim and perpetrator both), we feel it’s vital to share this important information. Especially when we learn of unsettling statistics like 80% of teens never tell anyone or the damage it can be to a person’s self-esteem.
We don’t want anyone to suffer in silence, whether it’s due to cyberbullying, substance abuse, or mental health disorders.
PANTS
Here is a child friendly way of approaching this difficult issue. It is called PANTS. Click on the link below to find out more information.
Teach your child the Underwear Rule and help protect them from abuse. It’s a simple way that parents can help keep children safe from sexual abuse – without using scary words or even mentioning sex.