Online Safety Information for Parents

Keeping Children Safe Online

It is more important than ever that we all engage in ensuring that our children are safe when they are learning or spending time online.  It is a sad reality that there will be predators out there who are taking advantage of the fact that more children are online perhaps without the supervision that they might have in more normal circumstances.    The government have advised that we  point parents to the following resources:

  • Thinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on staying safe online
  • Parent info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations
  • Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support
  • Internet matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world
  • London Grid for Learning has support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online
  • Net-aware has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games
  • Let’s Talk About It has advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation
  • UK Safer Internet Centre has tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services

I appreciate this list is comprehensive and so would suggest you start with the London Grid for Learning resources at https://www.lgfl.net/online-safety/resource-centre?s=16  – they provide advice around screen time and setting up appliances as well as top tips for keeping children safe online.

Further information is available in the regularly updated government document, ‘Spport for parents and carers to keep children safe online’ here.

Please, if you are concerned about a child, yours or others, whether it is online or any other concern, please contact us for support.  We understand that the mental health of children and families may be compromised at this time, and that there are increased incidences of domestic violence as families face new financial and other pressures.  You can contact us in the usual way—the school phone lines are open every day (01372 463 139) or you can make contact by email on office@esherchurchschool.org.uk.