Online Safety
Teaching children about online safety is a major part of our safeguarding work in school. We want our children to know how to keep themselves safe online and know what to do if they are upset about something they see or hear online. We also want to help our families learn more about how to help their children, especially as technology changes so quickly.
Every year we celebrate Safer Internet Day with a range of learning activities. Safer Internet Day 2023 is based around the theme Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online and is co-ordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre.
In partnership with Childnet, we’ll be exploring some of the risks of online gaming, and asking children their thoughts on how to stay safe online. We’ll also be sharing practical tips and support from BBC Own It.
Online Safety is not just about one day in the year and throughout their learning our children are taught about how to be SMART online.
 | S is for safe Keep your personal information safe. When chatting or posting online don’t give away things like your full name, password or home address. Remember personal information can be seen in images and videos you share too. Keep them safe to keep yourself safe. |
 | M is for meet Meeting up with someone you only know online, even a friend of a friend, can be dangerous as this person is still a stranger. If someone you only know online ever asks you to meet up, for personal information or for photos/videos of you then tell an adult straight away and report them together on www.thinkuknow.co.uk |
 | A is for accepting Think carefully before you click on or open something online (e.g. links, adverts, friend requests, photos) as you never know where they may lead to or they may contain viruses. Do not accept something if you are unsure of who the person is or what they’ve sent you. |
 | R is for reliable You cannot trust everything you see online as some things can be out of date, inaccurate or not entirely true. To find reliable information compare at least three different websites, check in books and talk to someone about what you have found. |
 | T is for tell Tell a trusted adult if something or someone ever makes you feel upset, worried or confused. This could be if you or someone you know is being bullied online. There are lots of people who will be able to help you like your teachers, parents, carers or contact Childline – 0800 11 11 or www.childline.org.uk |
 | Be SMART with a heart Remember to always be smart with a heart by being kind and respectful to others online. Make the internet a better place by helping your friends if they are worried or upset by anything that happens online. |
There are lots of SMART resources on the Childnet Website.
When you have had a look at them you can take this quiz to see what you have learned.
The BBC has lots of good resources that you can use with your child to help them learn how to stay safe. There are also resources just for parents so that you can learn about the issues that face children when they go online.
Here are some resources which you can look at with your child to help to help support them online.
