Home Schooling: Staying Safe Online

Staying Safe Online While Home Schooling.

The sudden enforced use of computer-based learning is a wonderful chance for education to develop and embrace everything the internet and computing have to offer.  Even with these wonderful educational innovations at hand, we need to remain mindful of the pitfalls of working remotely and, of course, online.

Online safety or online concerns all come under safeguarding and should be reported to Mr Ashcroft and, in his capacity as Designated Safeguarding Lead, he will manage all cases including online bullying.

The school website safeguarding page can signpost you to support groups and information for children, parents and staff and gives you access to the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection command) safety centre too.

Here are some top tips for being safe whilst home learning:

Learning space:

• If possible, children should not work in their bedrooms.They should have an area they feel safe in and which is free from distraction.

Online safety:

• Video conference etiquette requires all parties to be dressed appropriately and ensure the background is checked prior to the meeting to stop any potential embarrassment.The sessions will all be recorded and retained for a period of 12 months.
• The Acceptable Use Policy signed by all members of the community in September 2019 will continue to be adhered to during home learning and video communication.
• When communicating with others on the platforms, take a few seconds before you post to make sure the comment could not be taken in a way that would cause offence.
• Talk, as a family, about being safe online and have an interest in what each other are doing, including the use of social media or the latest update to a game on your console.
• Share your concern.If you are not comfortable about how someone is interacting with you then let someone know.
• The 1:1 sessions or chats through platforms will only occur during school hours or 9:00am – 6:00pm.
• Use our online safety guides which will be attached to the newsletter and ask Mr Ashcroft if you have any questions about online safety.

If a child has a safeguarding issue then they should contact any member of staff they feel comfortable doing so via email.

With online safety, speed of action is paramount because online information can spread at an exponential rate, so, share your niggling doubt as soon as possible!

James Ashcroft

Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead