Online Safety

Online Safety 

Technology in the 21st  Century is seen as an essential resource to support learning and teaching, as well as playing an important role in the everyday lives of children, young people and adults. Consequently, schools need to build in the use of these technologies in order to arm our young people with the skills to access life-long learning and employment.

Information and Communications Technology covers a wide range of resources including; web- based and mobile learning.  It is also important to recognise the constant and fast paced evolution of ICT within our society as a whole.  Currently the internet technologies children and young people are using both inside and outside of the classroom include:

•        Websites

•        Learning Platforms and Virtual Learning Environments, (Moodle)

•        E-mail and Instant Messaging (AET Mail, Text to Parents)

•        Chat Rooms and Social Networking (Facebook)

•        Blogs and Wikis

•        Podcasting

•        Video Broadcasting

•        Music Downloading

•        Gaming

•        Mobile/ Smart phones with text, video and/ or web functionality

•        Other mobile devices with web functionality

Whilst exciting and beneficial both in and out of the context of education, much ICT, particularly web-based resources, are not consistently policed.  All users need to be aware of the range of risks associated with the use of these Internet technologies.

At Ellington, we understand the responsibility to educate our pupils on Online-Safety issues; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of the classroom.

Schools hold personal data on learners, staff and other people to help them conduct their day- to-day activities. Some of this information is sensitive and could be used by another person or criminal organisation to cause harm or distress to an individual. The loss of sensitive information can result in media coverage, and potentially damage the reputation of the school. This can make it more difficult for your school to use technology to benefit learners.

Everybody in the school has a shared responsibility to secure any sensitive information used in their day to day professional duties and even staff not directly involved in data handling should be made aware of the risks and threats and how to minimise them.

Online safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of online safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way.

Please view our padlet here for further resources, support and guidance.

Online Safety for Parents/Carers

At Home

As a parent/carer, you'll know how important the internet is to children - they use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves. It's a highly creative place of amazing opportunities. But the technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online - such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content. Below is some websites/advice that you will hopefully find of use and that can be shared with your child/children.

National Online Safety

Click here to access the National Online Safety website where you will find lots of information and helpful guides to support your child's online safety. Click here to access a whole range of fantastic guides and training. 

The website also provides Annual Award in Online Safety for Parents & Carers of Children free of charge.

You can access the 3 - 7 year old award by clicking here and you can access the 7 - 11 year old award by clicking here