What is it?

Online Safety is ensuring that children are aware of potential risks involved when using computers and technology, as well as the actions they could take if necessary. We live in an ever-changing technological age and by taking steps to protect and support our children, together we can hopefully reduce these risks.

Where do we start?

The internet has changed all of our lives, particularly our children’s. For parents and carers this opens up a whole new world of things to be aware of. For many of us, this can all be a bit too much.

Here at Hadleigh Community Primary School we are striving to make sure all children are kept as safe online as they are offline. This page aims to make online parenting simpler, here you’ll find some practical tips as well as links to useful websites with further information.

Are you worried about something online?

Yes? Then the ‘CLICK CEOP‘ button above can help. If you have seen or heard anything online that has upset you, by pressing the button, you will be taken to a page that will give you more advice on what to do. It could be something nasty someone said to you, or something you have seen that you don’t like.

It would also be wise to tell a trusted adult (parent, guardian or teacher) to help you with any other questions. The ‘CLICK CEOP‘ button can also be found on our homepage.

What is CEOP?

CEOP works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account. They protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.

8 Top Tips, from ThinkUKnow:

  • Talk to your child about what they’re up to online. Be a part of their online life; involve the whole family and show an interest. Find out what sites they visit and what they love about them, if they know you understand they are more likely to come to you if they have any problems.
  • Watch the 'ThinkUKnow' films and cartoons with your child. The 'ThinkUKnow' site has films, games and advice for children from five all the way to 16.
  • Encourage your child to go online and explore! There is a wealth of age-appropriate sites online for your children. Encourage them to use sites which are fun, educational and that will help them to develop online skills.
  • Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Children grow up fast and they will be growing in confidence and learning new skills daily. It’s important that as your child learns more, so do you.
  • Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world. Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to discuss boundaries at a young age to develop the tools and skills children need to enjoy their time online.
  • Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space. For children of this age, it is important to keep internet use in family areas so you can see the sites your child is using and be there for them if they stumble across something they don’t want to see.
  • Know what connects to the internet and how. Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Make sure you’re aware of which devices that your child uses connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it your connection, or a neighbour’s WiFi? This will affect whether the safety setting you set are being applied.
  • Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet, such as the TV, laptops, computers, games consoles and mobile phones. Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start.