Online Safety – Keeping Our Children Safe in a Digital World

Empowering Children to Be Safe, Responsible and Confident Online

Technology is an increasingly important part of children's everyday lives. From an early age, children can access the internet through smartphones, tablets, gaming platforms and other connected devices. While technology provides exciting opportunities for learning, creativity, communication and exploration, it also presents risks that children need to understand and learn to manage.

At Haslam Park Primary School, online safety is an essential part of our safeguarding culture, curriculum and commitment to pupils' personal development.

Our responsibility goes beyond teaching children how to use technology. We want every pupil to develop the knowledge, understanding and confidence to recognise potential risks, make informed choices, behave respectfully online and know where to seek help if something makes them feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe.

We do not simply want children to know the rules of online safety. We want them to understand why those rules matter and develop the skills to make safe and responsible decisions.

An Inclusive and Proactive Approach to Online Safety

We recognise that children have different levels of access to technology, different online experiences and varying levels of understanding.

Our school community includes a high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children who speak English as an additional language (EAL), and families facing different circumstances and challenges.

We understand that some pupils may require additional teaching, repetition, visual support or carefully adapted explanations to recognise online risks, understand appropriate boundaries or know how to respond to unsafe situations.

Our context does not lower our expectations. It increases our responsibility to ensure that every child receives the knowledge and support needed to navigate the digital world safely.

Through age-appropriate teaching and regular reinforcement, we help children understand important aspects of online safety, including:

• Protecting personal information: Understanding privacy, passwords and the importance of not sharing personal details.

• Safe online relationships: Recognising appropriate and inappropriate communication and understanding that people online may not always be who they claim to be.

• Cyberbullying and respectful behaviour: Treating others with kindness, recognising harmful behaviour and knowing how to report concerns.

• Digital footprints: Understanding that online actions, messages and images can have lasting consequences.

• Critical thinking: Recognising that not everything seen online is accurate, trustworthy or appropriate.

• Online wellbeing: Developing healthy habits around screen time, gaming, social media and digital communication.

• Seeking help: Knowing when to stop, block, report or speak to a trusted adult.

Our aim is to develop safe, respectful, responsible and increasingly independent digital citizens who can benefit from technology while understanding how to protect themselves and others.

Working Together with Parents and Carers

We recognise that keeping children safe online requires a strong partnership between school and home.

Technology, apps, games and online trends change rapidly, and we understand that it can be difficult for parents and carers to keep up with new developments, age restrictions, privacy settings and emerging risks.

No family should feel that they have to navigate these challenges alone.

We have developed this Online Safety page to provide parents and carers with accessible guidance, practical advice and useful resources to support conversations about staying safe online.

We encourage families to take an active interest in children's digital lives, establish appropriate boundaries, talk openly about online experiences and reassure children that they can always seek help if something concerns them.

By working together, we can help children enjoy the benefits of technology while developing the confidence, knowledge and judgement to use it safely.

At Haslam Park, online safety is not a one-off lesson or an annual event. It is an ongoing safeguarding responsibility and an essential part of preparing our children for life in modern Britain.

Together we explore, learn and grow.

What I wish my parents/ carers knew document

 Each week, we share helpful advice and guidance from The National College on topical issues affecting children and families, including online safety and digital wellbeing. Take a look at the latest guides for practical tips and advice to help keep our children safe. These will also be shared every Wednesday on Dojo.

Parental Guides

How to set up Parental Controls

Video Games Ratings

Video games have changed and evolved over the last ten years, with lots of different ways of playing games (PC, mobile, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo, etc.) and the huge increase on games relying on being online to play them; it can sometimes be difficult to pick the right choices that are suitable for your children.Here are two guides linked with how games are rated.

PEGI

ESRB

If you have any more questions about the above, please speak to one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Useful Websites