West Leigh Infant School

We are aware that our pupils are increasingly accessing the internet, at school and at home. We recognise the importance that parents and carers play in ensuring your children understand the need to use the internet in an appropriate way.

Just as you protect them in the real-world, we know you want to make sure your children are safe online too. Online safety skills are life skills. When your children understand the risks associated with being online, they can become sensible, informed internet users. We all want them to get the most from the internet but to stay safe whilst they are doing so.

Information about keeping your child safe online:

• Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it’s better to keep online friends online.
• Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if needed.
• Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to.
• Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used. Keeping the computer in a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience – and that they are less likely to act inappropriately (i.e. via webcam).
• Help your child to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends — personal information includes their messenger ID, e-mail address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family or friends.
• If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Remind them that anyone may be looking at their images and one day a future employer could!
• If your child receives spam/junk email & texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them.
• It’s not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don’t know. They won’t know what they contain — it could be a virus, or worse — an inappropriate image or film.
• Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.

There are many resources available to keep you informed and to help you keep your children safe online. There are also resources that can help you if your children come across potentially harmful or inappropriate material on internet.