E-Safety

Keeping Our Learners Safe Online

At Gedney Church End Primary Academy, keeping our learners safe extends beyond the academy gates and into the online world.

Technology provides children with fantastic opportunities to learn, communicate, create and explore. However, we also recognise that being online can present risks. We want our learners to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to use technology safely, responsibly and positively.

Online safety is an important part of our safeguarding curriculum, but we know that keeping children safe online works best when the academy and families work together.

Supporting Your Child at Home

The online world changes quickly, and it can sometimes be difficult for parents and carers to keep up with the latest apps, games, devices and trends.

You don't need to be an online safety expert to support your child. Having regular, open conversations about what they do online is one of the most important things you can do. The UK Safer Internet Centre recommends talking regularly with children about the sites and games they use, what they share online and where they would go for help if something went wrong. 

We encourage families to:

• Talk regularly about what children are doing online.
• Take an interest in the games, apps and websites they enjoy.
• Establish clear and age-appropriate boundaries for technology use.
• Explore parental controls and privacy settings together.
• Encourage children to think carefully before sharing personal information, photographs or videos.
• Remind children that people they meet online may not always be who they say they are.
• Make sure children know that they should tell a trusted adult if something online makes them uncomfortable, worried or upset.
• Reassure children that they can ask for help without immediately worrying about being blamed or having their device taken away.

Useful Support for Parents and Carers

Internet Matters

Internet Matters provides practical advice and resources to help families keep children safe online.

Parents can find information about individual apps and devices, parental controls, age-appropriate technology and issues including social media, gaming and screen time. 

UK Safer Internet Centre

The UK Safer Internet Centre provides online safety advice, guidance and resources specifically for parents, carers, children and education professionals. 

Its parent resources include guidance around phones, laptops, tablets, games consoles, smart TVs, social media and conversations about online safety. 

CEOP Education

CEOP Education is the National Crime Agency's education programme and provides resources and information to help protect children and young people from online sexual abuse. 

Resources are available specifically for parents and carers, as well as age-appropriate information for children and young people. 

London Grid for Learning

London Grid for Learning provides safeguarding and online safety resources that can help families understand different aspects of children's digital lives.

Parent Zone

Parent Zone provides information and resources designed to help families navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by children's use of technology.

Worried About Something That Has Happened Online?

Please don't ignore an online concern.

If something has happened online that involves your child or another learner, please speak to a member of the Gedney Church End Primary Academy safeguarding team.

We would always rather you share a concern with us, even if you are unsure whether it is something the academy can help with.

Where there is a concern about online sexual abuse or exploitation, this can also be reported directly through CEOP. 

If you believe that a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Working Together

Children's online experiences are now an important part of their everyday lives. Our aim is not to make children frightened of technology, but to help them become informed, responsible and confident digital users who know how to recognise risks and ask for help.

By maintaining open conversations between learners, families and the academy, we can work together to help our children enjoy the benefits of technology while staying as safe as possible.

Tell someone if something doesn't feel right.