Online Safety
As a school we have a responsibility to ensure children are safe. This includes the appropriate use of the internet and social media which can present safeguarding risks. We ask you to ensure that suitable filtering is in place and that your children are made aware of the general online safety.
This page aims to help you use the internet in a safe way. It links to sites that are kept up to date with useful information, along with explanations and helpful hints for you and your family to get the most out of the internet.
Please click on the following links:
We recognise that Harrison's children are growing up in an increasingly complex world, living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks which we and parents are all too familiar with.
As a school we want to equip our pupils with the knowledge needed to make the best use of the internet and technology in a safe, considered and respectful way, so they are able to enjoy the benefits of the online world - and most importantly, stay safe.
We understand that schools have a part to play but that parents must take responsibility for their children's time online when at home. We are aware that children often report to us when they are worried about things that have happened online.
Our curriculum will teach children about the following topics in an age-appropriate way:
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online safety and harms
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positive, healthy and respectful online relationships
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the effects of their online actions on others
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knowing how to recognise and display respectful behaviour online.
Teaching children about internet safety and staying on safe online will complement the computing curriculum, which covers the principles of online safety at all key stages, with progression in the content to reflect the different and escalating risks that pupils face. This includes how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies. This also complements what children will learn about respect and responsibility for oneself and others in the 'Personal, Social, Health Education' and 'Relationships' curricula.
We will deliberately teach children about online safety.
Children will learn about:
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Underpinning knowledge and behaviours: the online world develops and changes at great speed. New opportunities, challenges and risks are appearing all the time. We will therefore focus on the underpinning knowledge and behaviours that can help children to navigate the online world safely and confidently regardless of the device, platform or app.
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Harms and risks: understanding and applying the knowledge and behaviours above will provide children with a solid foundation to navigate the online world in an effective and safe way.
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How to stay safe online: children will study elements of online activity that could adversely affect their personal safety or the personal safety of others online.
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Online relationships
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Privacy and Security
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Online reputation
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Online bullying
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Wellbeing: we are aware that online activity can adversely affect a pupil’s wellbeing .
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It is important to us that children are taught about online harms and risks in a safe environment so that children develop an understanding of how to stay safe on line and are comfortable to say what they feel.
We take our safeguarding responsibility very seriously; we will ensure that children understand how to report their concerns, and will always consider the best interests of the child, should we need to report our concerns to parents or other agencies, such as Children's Services.
We aim to create a whole school culture that incorporates the principles of online safety across all elements of school life. The Department for Education guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, provides advice for schools on embedding online safety into their broader safeguarding and child protection approach. We expect Harrison pupils to be clear about clear about what is expected of them online as offline, in school.
Our pupil 'Cyber Ambassadors' work with Mr Gooding and Mr McCune, computer safety leads, to spread the word around the school. Our aim is that online safety becomes part of the day-to-day conversation at Harrison about being safe and happy. Our school's Values - Collaboration, Honesty, Equality, Respect and Responsibility are as relevant when discussing online safety as they are on the playground.
In order that children understand how to stay safe online we have created, with the children:
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'Cyber Ambassadors' in all year groups
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Acceptable Use policies - key stages 1 and 2
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A whole school digital motto 'Pause before you post'
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Acceptable use policies for staff and parents
The documents mentioned above can be accessed by clicking the relevant links below.
Other useful information and guidance can be found on the Childnet website here.
