ONLINE SAFETY

‘Children have good knowledge of child-on-child abuse including bullying and online safety. They are aware of consent, the age of criminal responsibility and how to keep themselves safe online.’

LCC Safeguarding Audit 2023

Online Safety at Saint Bede's

Having access to online information and the opportunities that the digital world can offer has many benefits and for some it plays an important part of our everyday lives. However, it can also pose a risk if it is not used correctly.

Online safety is being aware of possible threats that you could encounter whilst engaging in activity through the internet. These could be security threats, protecting and managing your personal data, online reputation management and avoiding harmful or illegal content.

At Saint Bede’s, we have policies in place to ensure our pupils are learning in a safe and secure environment, which includes being safe online. We use filtering and monitoring systems called NetSweeper and SENSO. These software systems are used in school to promote a safe online learning environment. If an online safeguarding or behaviour concern is highlighted using our IT systems, these are identified and acted upon swiftly by our safeguarding and pastoral team.

Guidance and Help for Parents

The online safety information provided here has been organised to help parents contribute to the process of helping their child to be aware of the potential risks associated with using the internet and modern technologies and allow pupils to easily access help and support. However, as technology moves on at such a pace, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with new trends and developments, particularly regarding mobile/games technologies, social networking sites and secure and safe accessibility to other online material.

Social Media and Parental Controls

It is essential that we recognise the growing use of social networking sites among young people and continue to have ongoing conversations about safety, both in school and at home and be clear about how we expect pupils to communicate with others.

Safer Internet Centre Social Media Checklists - offers guidance on parental controls for most popular used social media platforms.
NSPCC Social Media Checklist - provides parents with an overview of the functions and potential risks of different social media platforms.
Snapchat Safety - Snapchat is the most used social media platform amongst young people. With minimal control over who can connect with another person's account, location sharing, disappearing messages it is often a source of many online safety concerns.
Knowsley Parental Controls Guide - supports parents setting up parental controls on devices, home internet and social media platforms.
Parental Controls - supports parents setting up parental controls on devices, home internet and social media platforms
Parental Controls Set Up Videos

Sextortion

Sextortion is a growing concern amongst young people. Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where young people are pressured or threatened into sharing money or further images after an offender obtains a nude or semi‑nude picture, often through fake profiles or manipulation on social media and gaming platforms. This type of harm can escalate quickly and affects children of all genders. Our school is committed to raising awareness, supporting pupils, and ensuring they know how to seek help if they or someone they know is affected by this serious online risk.

Sextortion Reporting - guidance on reporting sextortion cases to the police

Reporting Concerns

The following links supports both pupils and parents in remaining safe online as well as offering guidance where they can report concerns.

Report Remove - enables young people under the age of 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images or videos of themselves and remove them from the internet.
CEOP - Child Exploitation Online Protection: A method of reporting online sexual abuse or you’re worried this is happening to someone you know.
Report Harmful Content - Allows the user to highlight abuse online to get it removed.