e. Online Safety​​​​​​​

Online safety is a golden thread woven throughout our Computing and wider curriculum. It is embedded in day-to-day teaching, revisited every term, and further strengthened through assemblies, dedicated PSHE lessons, themed weeks, and parent engagement. We follow the Education for a Connected World framework to ensure our pupils develop age-appropriate digital skills, knowledge, and behaviours.

Each February, we also take part in Safer Internet Day, using this national event as an opportunity to deepen children’s understanding of digital citizenship, open dialogue about real-world issues, and champion pupils’ voices on how to create a safer online world.

What Online Safety Looks Like in Our School

Our online safety curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils can:

• Recognise risks Children learn to identify unsafe content, unkind behaviour, unreliable information, inappropriate contact, and features of unsafe websites and apps.
• Know how to report concerns Pupils are taught how, when, and to whom they can report issues, both in school and at home. They practise scenarios, learn the language of help-seeking, and understand that reporting keeps everyone safe.
• Communicate safely and respectfully We teach children how to interact kindly online, how to make positive, respectful choices, and how to manage online conflict. This includes discussions around group chats, gaming, messages, and digital etiquette.
• Protect their identity and personal information Pupils learn about privacy settings, strong passwords, appropriate sharing, and recognising when personal data may be at risk.
• Understand reliability, misinformation, and digital footprints Children explore how online information is created, how it can be manipulated, why false information spreads, and the long-term impact of their online activity.

Additional Focus Areas

To ensure pupils are confident and well-prepared digital citizens, our online safety provision also covers:

Healthy Relationships & Online Wellbeing

• Recognising pressure, persuasion, and peer influence online
• Managing screen time and balancing online/offline activities
• Understanding positive vs. negative online interactions

Cybersecurity Foundations

• Introduction to secure passwords
• Safe device use
• Understanding basic cyber threats in an age-appropriate way

Responsible Use of AI and Emerging Technologies

• Using AI tools responsibly
• Recognising risks (e.g., deepfakes, misleading content)
• Understanding how algorithms can shape experiences

Digital Reputation & Future Readiness

• Understanding how online actions affect future opportunities
• Creating positive digital profiles
• Thinking critically before posting or sharing

How We Support Parents & Carers

We know that online safety is most effective when school and home work together. To support families, we provide:

• Parent workshops (in person and online)
• Guidance sheets and step-by-step safety instructions for devices, social media, apps, and games
• Regular newsletters including current trends and alerts
• Signposting to trusted external organisations
• Open-door conversations for any parent wanting help or advice

Our aim is to empower parents to feel confident and informed, ensuring children receive consistent messages in both home and school environments.