Online Safety
Online Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Boundary Primary School. We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. At Boundary Primary School we use a system called Fortiguard to help ensure our internet filtering system is as safe as possible. We have also invested in Smoothwall, a system that monitors the online searches that go through the school's server. This activity is monitored and recorded with the support of Remedian IT Solutions. Any Online Safety incidents are recorded and managed in line with our Safeguarding, Online Safety and Behaviour policies. Online Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.
We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with our parents and carers to ensure the Online Safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.
It’s important to be realistic – banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.
Our school Online Safety and Digital Data policy can be found by clicking here
Guides for Parents and Carers
Below is a link to a range of practical guides produced by National Online Safety to support and guide parents and carers keep their children safe online. These include guides to a range of popular apps and computer games.
Search engines
Please note that no search engine is ever 100% safe but below provides some links to some “safer” search engines:
Websites for more information
Please click on the icon to go to the relevant site
CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) delivers a multi-agency service dedicated to tackling the abuse and exploitation of children in the real and ‘e’ world. Often it is referred to as an online 999. By clicking on the button, young people and parents can get advice on a range of issues such as viruses, hacking and dealing with bullying online.
Vodafone have produced a Digital Parenting Magazine which informs parents about the various technologies children are accessing today. There is information on Facebook settings, Xbox 360 settings, Blackberry settings, jargon busting and many more ‘How to Guides’. They are well worth a read and some are attached below for you to download.
The “Thinkuknow” website is brought to you by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre.
Kidsmart gives you lots of advice on how to stay safe online.
New Online Safety Portal for Parents and Schools – Internet Matters
Internet Matters is a new online portal designed for parents to access simple, easy and practical advice about online safety for their children, right through from pre-school to teens. It provides tips on protecting children from online grooming, cyberbullying, privacy and identity theft and inappropriate content. Internet Matters is a not-for profit organisation set up by BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.
ParentINFO is a collaboration between ParentZone and CEOP. There are useful guides and articles on helping your child stay safe online.
Please Note: Children are not permitted to bring mobile phones to school, however if you choose to provide one to them for walking to and from school, these will have to be handed into the class teacher. School does not accept any responsibility for any damage to personal items brought into school.
Online Safety
Facebook Facts, Tips and Useful Information
How to Set up Parental Controls on iPads
How to set up Parental Controls on Google Play Store
How to Setup Parental Controls on an Android Tablet
NSPCC Advice on Keeping Your Child Safe Online
