. . . at Home and In School
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 resource for parents |
resource for parents and children |
Using the Internet safely:
At home -
Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to help you safeguard your child at home, it remains surprisingly easy for children to access inappropriate material including unsuitable texts, pictures and movies. Parents are advised to set the security levels within Internet Explorer with this in mind. Locating the computer in a family area, not a bedroom, will enable you to supervise children as they use the internet. However, don’t deny your child the opportunity to learn from the wide variety of material and games available on the internet. Instead set some simple rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand the importance.
Simple rules for keeping your child safe
To keep your child safe they should:
- ask permission before using the internet
- only use websites you have chosen together or a child friendly search engine
- only e mail people they know (why not consider setting up an address book?)
- ask permission before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know
- not use internet chat rooms
- not use their real name when using games on the internet (create a nick name)
- never give out a home address, phone or mobile number
- never tell someone they don’t know where they go to school
- never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the internet
- only use a webcam with people they know
- tell you immediately if they see anything they are unhappy with.
Using these rules
Go through these rules with your child and pin the up near to the computer. It is also a good idea to regularly check the internet sites your child is visiting e.g. by clicking on History and Favourites. Please reassure your child that you want to keep them safe rather than take internet access away from them. For further information go to:
CEOP: www.ceop.gov.uk
Think U Know: www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Childnet: www.childnet-int.org
Kid Smart: www.kidsmart.org.uk
At school -
We take e-safety very seriously and are mindful of the problems there are with children gaining access to undesirable materials. We have taken steps, along with the Local Education Authority, to deal with this. Our Internet access is supplied by Brighton and Hove City Council and it has a highly effective, built in filtering system that restricts access to sites containing inappropriate content. All our computer monitors are in public view and children will always be supervised by an adult when using them. No system is perfect, however, and you should be aware that it is not possible to remove entirely the risk of finding unsuitable material. If such content is reported however, we will take immediate steps to have it blocked from the system.
The school has ipads-laptops with Internet access to help your learning. These rules will keep you safe and help us to be fair to others.
- I will only access the system with my own login and password
- I will not access other people’s files or try to log on using anyone else’s password
- I will use the ipads-laptops for school work during lesson times
- I will not bring in memory sticks or discs from outside school unless I have been given permission and they have been checked for viruses
- I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
- I will only email people I know or who my teacher has approved
- The messages I send will be polite and responsible
- I will not give my home address or telephone number, nor arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
- I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand this report is confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
- I understand that the school may check my computer files, may monitor the Internet sites I visit and may check my emails. I will use the Internet responsibly
- I understand I may be monitored while using a computer in school and the teachers can see what I am doing at any time.