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Baysgarth

In our fast changing world, learning about E-Safety and how to exploit the amazing potential of online technology, whilst remaining safe and secure is a crucial aspect of our student’s education and well-being.

Students learn about E-Safety through our ICT and Digital Literacy curriculums with specific units of study in Year 7 and 8, ensuring students develop core skills of managing their work and social interactions safely online.

Our ICE programme also has online safety units across the year groups. Our pastoral teams support students if they do run into difficulties and E-Safety issues are covered through assemblies during the year. We encourage all of our students to report any issues to a member of staff.

Parents Information

We recognise that E-Safety issues are constantly changing and evolving and strongly recommend visiting the excellent ThinkUKnow website run by CEOP (The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre).

Top Tips for Parents

  • Be involved in your child’s online life. For many of today’s young people there is no line between the online and offline worlds. Young people use the internet to socialise and grow and, just as you guide and support them offline, you should be there for them online too. Talk to them about what they’re doing, if they know you understand they are more likely to approach you if they need support.
  • Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Be inquisitive and interested in the new gadgets and sites that your child is using. 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 continue to discuss boundaries so that they evolve as your child’s use of technology does.
  • Know what connects to the internet and how. Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Your child will use all sorts of devices and gadgets; make sure you’re aware of which ones can 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 your safety settings are being applied.
  • Consider the use of 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 and are not as difficult to install as you might think. Service providers are working hard to make them simple, effective and user friendly.
  • Emphasise that not everyone is who they say they are. Make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. People might not always be who they say they are. Make sure your child understands that they should never meet up with anyone they only know online without taking a trusted adult with them.
  • Know what to do if something goes wrong. Just as in the offline world, you want to help your child when they need it. Therefore, it is important to know when and how to report any problem.