E-Safety
As part of Computing in our school - we aim to teach children about the importance of e-safety.
With access to some many devices, pupils have a world of technological marvel at their fingertips. The internet is an incredible way for children to research digitally, explore the world and have fun. However, there are of course risks online such as cyber-bullying, inappropriate content and the risk of grooming - amongst others.
Along with our efforts here at school, you will find a wealth of information and resources that you can use at home to further educate your children about using the internet and technological devices safely.
Teachers and staff at our school highly value the importance of keeping our pupils safe when they are online and as such, we always have special restrictions centrally controlled at the Civic Centre that filter any inappropriate content.
All content and internet use is strictly monitored by the Local Authority. Pupils are never allowed to use the internet without adult supervision and will always use computers using their own login. We ensure that any software that helps to filter and protect us online is adopted and used via the Local Authority IT Service.
Our staff teach e-Safety across the school in Computing and Citizenship lessons and through interaction online and discussion offline. We have had a special assembly for the whole school - talking about the sharing of information online and use of mobile devices - to a special assembly and e-safety poster competition on the annual Safer Internet Day where pupils were reminded of the SMART Rules from Childnet:
- The Computing Suite is only accessible through a number lock entry system, preventing unauthorised entry.
- The internet connection is directly controlled, monitored and filtered by IT Services and the Local Authority.
- Pupils cannot access sites that cover a range of inappropriate categories and the school is alerted if required.
- Pupils each have a unique login and use this in sessions so that each pupil is responsible and accountable for their usage.
- Access to video sharing websites such as YouTube is automatically blocked for pupils through login.
- Teachers use viewpure.com to play YouTube videos in class - allowing the removal of adverts, pre-content video adverts, pop up annotations and post-video related video suggestions or automatic playlists. This also prevents pupils seeing related videos or potentially offensive or inappropriate comments on screen.
- Pupils are taught the SMART protocol and encouraged to share something they think is not appropriate by informing the teacher immediately.
- Pupils know they can talk to their teacher, the Computing leader or the Head-teacher if they have concerns about accessing material online - at school or a home.
- Pupils are encouraged to use safe search websites as an alternative to Google Images in KS1 and are taught practical and sensible search term strategies to search sensibly in KS2 (e.g. the addition of words like clipart, vector, painting etc).
- Pupils have access to a unique Minecraft Server which is ONLY accessible through our internal network and cannot be accessed by anyone outside of our Computing Suite.
- We have posters created by pupils which are in the Suite and around school that remind them of the SMART rules.
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Mr J Singh
Computing and E-safety Lead / Teacher
Please contact school for current email addressMr. Singh is a Specialist Leader in Education in the field of Computing and is our school's Subject Leader. He is also a class teacher. Please feel free to contact Mr. Singh if you would like to talk about any matters related to E-Safety or Computing.