Online safety covers the use of internet technologies and electronic communication, including mobile phones, tablets, and wireless devices. It recognises both the valuable opportunities technology provides for learning and communication, and the potential risks. Online safety education aims to equip children and young people with the knowledge, skills, and awareness they need to make safe and responsible choices, and to manage their own online experiences confidently.

At Clifton Green Primary School, we are committed to providing pupils with access to high-quality learning through digital technologies. Alongside this, we have a clear responsibility to ensure that these experiences are safe. The safety and wellbeing of our children when using the internet is a top priority. Pupils are taught how to stay safe online and how to use computers and Chromebooks responsibly as part of their learning in school.

We recognise that parents and carers also play a vital role in keeping children safe online beyond the school day. There are many trusted websites and organisations that offer guidance and practical advice to help families support their children in using the internet safely at home and elsewhere.

At Clifton Green Primary School, the happiness, safety and wellbeing of our pupils is at the centre of everything we do. In this rapidly changing digital world, it is imperative that we prepare our pupils with the knowledge and skills to remain safe online. In order to achieve this, we provide our pupils, parents and staff with opportunities to learn and gather skills to support their own digital safety.

We follow the Teach Computing scheme of work which is a clear and effective scheme that provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum. The teaching of e-safety is interwoven within each of these units and pupils are reminded of age specific safety tips at the start of each lesson. To further support the pupils’ learning, our school also provides pupils with opportunities to gather knowledge through other avenues, such as assemblies, games and competitions to keep the profile of eSafety high across school.

Every February, all pupils participate in activities for Safer Internet Day (SID). They take part in discussions and activities based on a theme aimed to develop and enhance their knowledge, and the importance of digital safety. Much of this learning is then shared with parents via our social media platforms. Additionally, we share online platform guides via our social media for parents/carers as part of the #WakeUpWednesday campaign.

Useful tips for stying safe online