The internet is a significant part of young people’s lives. It has revolutionised the way we communicate, learn, and interact. However, it isn’t all fun and games, safety should always be a concern.
At our school, we’re helping create awareness of the potential relationship and safety issues posed by gaming and video streaming sites whilst also explaining how young people can protect themselves online. We believe that education is crucial to making sure that our pupils are able to use the internet safely.
This year, on the 8th of February 2023, fifteen nations across the globe will participate in helping educate pupils on the dangers of the internet and how to keep safe when using it.
For Safer Internet Day 2023, the UK Safer Internet Centre is organising celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’, and is all about 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. https://www.saferinternetday.org/en-GB/resources.
Two assemblies are taking place this week at Tregoze Primary School, one aimed at EYFS and KS1 pupils, and the other aimed at KS2 pupils. Throughout the day, all children are completing an activity about online safety, and in a follow-up sharing assembly, are going to share their learning. The 'Online Safety' board on display in the school will then be updated to reflect the learning completed.
In every year group we teach Online Safety weekly at the start of our Computing lesson and use 'Project Evolve' to support our planning and delivering of the lesson. We have a different strand of focus each short term, so six strands are covered each academic year. We believe it is very important that online safety day happens as keeping children safe online is a duty of ours.
All members of staff are involved in encouraging safe online practices, and excellent training is provided through The White Horse Federation.