Safeguarding

In school we are developing a comprehensive curriculum to support children’s online safety.  However, this must be supported by you as parents.

It is important that you: 

• understand why your child uses the internet 
• what the risks are  
• and how you can support their E-Safety. 

The internet, and associated anonymity leads to a disinhibition; it is imperative you check your child’s activity daily to ensure that they are behaving on-line, as you would expect in real life.  Inappropriate images, use of language and comments can cause issues: the digital footprint / digital tattoo your child creates is difficult to erase and can impact their future, especially if they are to go to court. 

Please use the drop down menus at the start of this 'E-Safety for Parents' section to look more closely at how you can learn more to understand your children’s use of the internet, safely manage their online activity and support them if something goes wrong. 

In school we recognise that it is crucial that children learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with a critical awareness of their own and others’ online behaviour, and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online. 

Use the UK Council for Internet Safety's Education for a Connected World materials. Children have E-safety lessons throughout the year, in every year at school. As such, we create a culture of E-safety that is part of all we do.  

This framework describes the Digital knowledge and skills that children and young people should have the opportunity to develop at different ages and stages of their lives. It highlights what a child should know in terms of current online technology, its influence on behaviour and development, and what skills they need to be able to navigate it.

The document supports one of the key aims of the government’s Internet Safety Strategy of supporting children to stay safe and make a positive contribution online, as well enabling teachers to develop effective strategies for understanding and handling online risks.

 We have a team of pupil E-safety leaders who work with staff and our E-Safety governor to audit our offer, communicate with their peers to get their opinions and help us improve our school offer.

We are also working to create bespoke E-Safety learning for identified vulnerable learners. 

An example of minutes from our E-Safety Leaders Meetings

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has provided clarification about this matter stating that the Data Protection Act does not prevent photos and videos of children being taken for personal use i.e. parents wanting to take photos or videos of their child in a play, Sports day etc. even if these images include other children than their own.

Having said this, we would like to ask that parents use any images they take of their own and others’ children responsibly. In the interest of safeguarding all children we would request you carefully consider the use of social media when posting photos and videos of children. As you know we take the online safety of our children very seriously and would ask for your full support in this matter.

However, the ICO states that should parents choose to photo/video school events the school cannot stop them, nor can the school be held responsible should the parents choose to post images to social media.

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/schools/photos/

http://www.saferchildrenyork.org.uk/2014%20YorOK%20Website/Downloads%20Old/SaferChildrenYork/Guidance_Children_Photos_2013.pdf

Operation Encompass is a partnership between police and schools.

One of the principles of Operation Encompass is that all incidents of domestic abuse are shared with schools, not just those where an offence can be identified.

For many years now, the school has worked with North Yorkshire Police and Operation Encompass to support pupils who may have experienced domestic violence. Operation Encompass works by reporting to the schools when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse or is resident in a house where domestic abuse has occurred and has been reported to the Police.

Operation Encompass ensures that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, is trained to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support children in school with any difficulties they may experience as a result of domestic violence.