Online Safety

Meet the Online Safety Team

                          Lisa Iliffe                 Adrian Boyer             Rachel Scholey

                                             

 If you have any concerns or questions about staying safe online, please contact school and our Online Safety Lead, Lisa Iliffe will be more than happy to help you. 

01924 541947 or li@pinderfieldshospitalpru.co.uk 

Advice and Support this Christmas

 Gadget Gift Guide

 Christmas can be an exciting time when   many children are given new devices   and gadgets. Ireland's online safety   charity, CyberSafeKids, have put   together a brand new guide for parents   and carers covering:

  • The benefits and risks of popular smart devices and toys.
  • What you can do to make them safer.
  • Age recommendations
  • And more.

 You can download the guide HERE.

 

 Protect Neurodivergent   Children from Scams in   Games

 As we all know, neurodivergent children can be   amongst those most vulnerable online, therefore   more likely to become victims of things like   scams. Those with ADHD, autism or other   divergent ways of thinking might not recognise   when someone intends to do harm.

  Internet Matters have put together a brand new   free guide for parents which explores how   neurodivergent children's unique traits can   leave them open to scams, particularly in games.

 You can download the free guide HERE.

 Android Settings

 Google has released new and updated parental   controls for Android devices. These include:

  • Set the amount of screen time that can be spent on a device each day to help establish healthy habits.
  • Set downtime schedules to automatically lock the device at night to ensure restful sleep without distraction.
  • Control app usage by limiting time spent on specific apps, or blocking apps entirely.
  • Add more time by granting extra minutes when a time limit is reached, or to extend a scheduled break.

 You can find further details about these updates on   the Google blog HERE and Internet Matters have a   handy Android guide for parents which you can   find HERE.

 

 

 Shopping Scams

 Every year hundreds of thousands of people here   in the UK fall victim to fraud when buying   something online. With Xmas and Xmas sales   rapidly approaching, fraud and scams will be   significantly on the increase.

 GetSafeOnline has a plethora of information to   help with this such as:

  • Information on purchase scams HERE.
  • Online buying tips HERE.
  • Scam website checker HERE.

 On social media platforms such as Instagram   you will often see ads for things like clothing   and gifts which look interesting and unique.   Click on the ad to take a closer look and always   tap on the 3 dots on the top right and tap on   "open in external browser."

 Then, when on the website, check for company   details,  contact details, and reviews as these   can identify red flags.

 

 

 

The Report Harmful Content Button

The RHC button has been developed to offer anyone living in the UK a simple mechanism for gaining access to reporting routes for commonly used social networking sites, gaming platforms, apps and streaming services alongside trusted online safety advice, help and support. 

Children under 13 years of age are encouraged to tell an adult that they trust about what has happened and to ask for their help in reporting this going through our how we can help resource together.

RHC also have advice and links to reporting routes for other online harms people may come across or face, such as impersonation, privacy violations and intimate image abuse. 

Reporting to RHC

Reports can be made 24/7 through the online reporting forms and helpline practitioners will review and respond to reports  within 72 hours between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

   The Report Harmful Content Button

SWGfL Report Harmful Content

 

 

Many of you may be familiar with the TV show Adolescence or have seen the   extensive media coverage surrounding it. As parents, caregivers, and relatives   of young people, you may feel overwhelmed or concerned about the challenges   they face. To assist in better understanding their online communication, we've   provided a 'Periodic Table' of emojis, which outlines the meanings behind   various symbols commonly used on social media and messaging platforms.

 We hope this resource proves helpful as you navigate conversations and support   older students. If you have any concerns about managing your child's internet   access or online safety, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to   assist you in ensuring that your home’s online systems are as secure as possible.

   Emoji Table                Understanding Emojis

 

 April 25

The ABC online safety checklist

produced by internet matters.org

It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start when it comes to keeping your children safe online.  So, to help you get started, they’ve created the ABC online safety checklist.

 

360 Self Review Audit Tool

Assessing Smartphone Readiness


"Is my child old enough to have a phone?" It's a common, understandable question that many parents ask, and it is very difficult to answer as there are so many factors involved.
For younger children it's often peer pressure, with older children social isolation is very common.

 The Institute for Digital Media and Child Development have put together some tip sheets for parents which are really useful.   There are 3 parts:
  • Assessing readiness.
  • Preparing for healthy use.
  • What now?
You can view all the tip sheets HERE.

 

 "How do I start that conversation with my child?"

Early and continuing conversations is important and should not be any different from any other normal conversation. 

To help parents, Internet Matters have put together some conversation starters and tips to help which you can find HERE.

Talking to your child about online sexual harassment: A guide for parents and carers.
Talking to your child about online sexual harassment: A guide for parents and carers.

What is The Dark Web?

Take a look at CEOP's advice and short film explaining all you need to know about the dark web.

 

A collection of short videos to use with primary aged children.

These videos are designed to be used by families at home for an adult to deliver directly with children aged 6-9 years old. Click on the image below.