Online Safety

Safeguarding includes protecting children from harm online.

Our approach to online safety considers four broad areas of risk:

• Content: what children may see, hear or read;
• Contact: who children may interact with;
• Conduct: how children and others behave online; and
• Commerce: advertising, scams, gambling-style features and financial risks.

Children learn about:

• protecting personal information;
• passwords and account security;
• privacy settings and their limitations;
• online friendships and strangers;
• cyberbullying;
• gaming and in-game communication;
• age restrictions;
• sharing images and information;
• inappropriate or harmful content;
• grooming, manipulation and exploitation;
• scams, fraud and in-game purchases;
• misinformation and unreliable content;
• influencers, algorithms and persuasive design;
• artificial intelligence and manipulated images;
• consent before sharing another person’s information or image; and
• blocking, reporting and seeking help.

Online safety is taught through Computing, PSHE, Relationships and Health Education and the wider safeguarding curriculum. It is revisited throughout the year and adapted as technology and risks change.

Please visit our separate Online Safety for Families page for practical advice, reporting routes and support with devices, gaming, social media and parental controls.

Filtering and Monitoring

School devices and internet access are protected through appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements.

These arrangements help us:

• block access to harmful or inappropriate content;
• identify concerning searches or activity;
• support safe and appropriate technology use;
• respond to emerging risks; and
• meet national filtering and monitoring expectations.

No filtering system can replace education, supervision and professional curiosity. Staff remain vigilant and children are taught how to respond if they encounter something worrying.

Filtering and monitoring arrangements are reviewed regularly. Leaders and governors receive appropriate information so that they can assure themselves that the systems remain effective and suitable for the school.