E-Safety

ICT in the 21st Century is seen as an essential resource to support learning and teaching, as well as playing an important role in the everyday lives of children, young people and adults. Consequently, at Petersfield we need to build in the use of these technologies in order to arm our young people with the skills to access life-long learning and employment.

E-safety involves pupils, staff, governors and parents making best use of technology, information, training and this policy to create and maintain a safe online and ICT environment for Petersfield School.

"As in any other area of life, children and young people are vulnerable and may expose themselves to danger - knowingly or unknowingly - when using the Internet and other digital technologies. Indeed, some young people may find themselves involved in activities which are inappropriate or possibly illegal. To ignore e-safety issues when implementing the requirements of Every Child Matters could ultimately lead to significant gaps in child protection policies, leaving children and young people vulnerable." From: Safeguarding Children in a Digital World. BECTA 2006

Thinkuknow

Visit CEOP's Thinkuknow website to find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what's good, what's not and what you can do about it. There's a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.

UK Safer Internet Centre

On the UK Safer Internet Centre website, you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe on the internet.

Parent INFO

A collection of articles, tips, expert advice and resources designed to help parents keep up with what their children are doing on-line. Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone, which has been providing information and support to parents for a decade, and CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection command of the National Crime Agency.

Digital Parenting

Vodafone's Digital Parenting magazine, developed in partnership with The Parent Zone, includes articles written by experts to help keep young people safe in the digital world.

Resources from Safer Internet Day 2022

Safer Internet Day 2023 at Petersfield

Safer Internet Day 2023 took place on the 7th of February 2023, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’. Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. In the UK, we are celebrating by putting children and young people’s voices at the heart of the day and encouraging them to shape the online safety support that they receive. At Petersfield we are taking time to listen to the children to make a positive change together. This year we were focusing on:

• Issues that really matter to children and young people

• Changes young people want to see

• How we can all work together to advocate for them moving forward

Safer Internet Day 2023 was a springboard for conversations that shape how we talk about and respond to online issues, not just for one day, but throughout the whole year.

Safer Internet Day 2024 at Petersfield

Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity to focus on online safety with your child, whatever their age. This year’s theme is all about change and influence online and we have created a range of pages to help you talk about these issues and ideas with your child, no matter how much time you have and in an age-appropriate way.

Safer Internet Day 2024 is celebrated on 6th February 2024, with thousands of people across the UK working together to champion youth voice and engage in conversations about how we can all work together to make the internet a great and safe place.

Help and advice for you as a parent or carer - Please click on the document below we look to answer some of the key questions you may have this Safer Internet Day.

Safer Internet Day 2025 at Petersfield

The Parents' Guide to Safer Internet Day - Safer Internet Day takes place each year promoting internet safety and digital literacy, especially for children and young people. It takes place on the second Tuesday in February - this year it's on 11th February. Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. This year's theme is ‘too good to be true', with a focus on watching out for scams.

Parents play a pivotal role in teaching and influencing their children how to use the internet safely and responsibly, so this article outlines how you can help.

The internet is a fabulous resource providing many opportunities for learning; however, there are risks too. Safer Internet Day helps to reinforce key messages about the importance of internet safety and responsible online behaviour. It's a chance for people to discuss emerging online issues, such as cyberbullying, internet fraud, inappropriate content and online privacy. Schools are encouraged to take part to help promote the safer use of digital technologies with activities including workshops, events, online discussions, and campaigns.

As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the risks that your child may face when using the internet. Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity to talk to your child about the importance of staying safe online, and to provide them with tools and resources that will help them do so.

Here are some tips for helping to keep your child safe online:

Here are some tips for helping to keep your child safe online:

1. Educate Yourself:

Stay up-to-date on the latest online trends and technologies, so that you can better understand the risks your child may face. Take time to explore internet safety tools and resources with your child, such as parental control settings and privacy settings. Why not start with checking recommendations by the UK Safer Internet Centre?

2. Nurture Open Communication:

Establishing a trusting relationship with your teen is essential for maintaining a healthy dialogue about their online activities. Make sure they feel comfortable talking to you about what they’re doing online and their experiences. This may involve more listening than telling them what to do (and what not to do!) because if they feel you are going to be critical when they discuss something with you, they might stop communicating. Keep an eye on issues raised in films, dramas and soaps they enjoy. This can provide a more relaxed, non-confrontational way of discussing sensitive topics and finding out what your teen thinks.

3. Set Clear Rules and Boundaries:

Set limits and rules for online activities, such as what sites they can visit, who they can talk to, and how much time they can spend online. Make sure your child understands the rules and consequences for breaking them. Obviously, this is age sensitive, so start early to get them into good online habits when you are still able to influence their online activity. As they get older, you can still offer advice but it gets more difficult to enforce rules.

4. Monitor Their Activity:

Check in on your child’s online activity from time to time. Pay attention to what websites or apps they are using, and the content they are viewing or sharing. If they're keen to hide their activity from you, there's a good chance they're doing something they know you wouldn't like! Find out independently about the apps and games they're using most - so you understand what they're about.

5. Teach Good Digital Hygiene:

Help your child understand the importance of maintaining a positive online reputation and the reality that their digital activity may remain permanently accessible - even if they've deleted texts/photos/apps. Check they understand the potential risks of sharing too much personal information.

6. Encourage Responsible Use of Social Media:

Talk to your child in an age appropriate way about the potential risks of using social media, such as cyberbullying, online predators, identity theft, sexting, and scams.

7. Be a role model

Encourage your child to be a responsible digital citizen by setting a good example yourself – don’t post things online that you wouldn't want them to do; don't prioritize online activity over people in the room and be mindful why you might not want to share with them what you're doing online.

As parents, it's important to be aware of the potential risks and dangers children may face while using the internet, and to take steps to protect them. That's not to suggest being online is a bad thing but, like driving a car, it's important to understand the risks as well as the rewards. Help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience online so that they can enjoy the wonderful wealth of experience online life can provide.

Staying Safe Online This Summer 2025

As the summer holidays begin, many children will be spending more time online. Whether it’s playing games, watching videos or chatting with friends. It’s important to stay safe while having fun.

At Petersfield, we teach our pupils to be kind, careful and responsible online. Over the summer, we encourage all children and families to remember the key E-Safety rules:

• Keep personal information private – Never share your full name, address, school or passwords.

• Be kind online – Treat others with respect, just like you would in real life.

• Talk to a trusted adult – If something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, always tell a grown-up you trust.

• Think before you click – Be careful with links, downloads and messages from people you don’t know.

Here is a link to a more detailed guide and resources to keep your child/children safe this summer. Enjoy your summer and stay safe both online and offline!