Keeping Children Safe Online

At Medway Community Primary School, online safety is an important part of safeguarding.

Technology provides children with valuable opportunities to learn, communicate, play and explore. However, children also need the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise risks, make safe choices and know what to do when something online makes them feel worried or uncomfortable.

We work in partnership with children and families to help pupils become safe, responsible and respectful users of technology.

Online Safety at Medway

We help children learn how to:

• keep personal information private
• use passwords and accounts safely
• communicate respectfully online
• recognise inappropriate or upsetting content
• understand that people online may not always be who they say they are
• recognise online bullying and know how to get help
• think carefully before sharing photographs, videos or information
• understand that information shared online can be difficult to remove
• recognise when someone is trying to pressure, manipulate or upset them
• question whether information they see online is reliable
• understand age restrictions and the risks associated with some apps, games and social media
• tell a trusted adult when something online worries them.

Online safety sits within Medway's wider safeguarding arrangements. Senior leaders have responsibility for checking safeguarding and curriculum access as part of the school's overall provision and assurance.

Our Approach

Online safety is not taught as a one-off lesson. It forms part of our wider safeguarding culture and children's learning about relationships, behaviour, wellbeing and responsible use of technology.

Where a child may need additional support to understand or manage online risks, we recognise that this may need to be personalised. Medway's wider approach includes targeted, individual and bespoke support where assessment identifies an additional barrier or need.

Our approach includes:

• age-appropriate online safety education.
• clear expectations for children's use of technology
• staff safeguarding training
• appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements
• responding to online safeguarding concerns
• supporting children who experience online bullying or harmful behaviour
• working with parents and carers
• adapting support for children who may be particularly vulnerable online.

Supporting Your Child at Home

Parents and carers have an important role in helping children develop safe and healthy online habits.

We encourage families to:

• talk regularly about what your child enjoys doing online
• take an interest in the games, apps and websites they use
• check the age ratings and restrictions for apps, games and social media
• use appropriate parental controls and privacy settings
• agree family rules about screen time and when and where devices can be used
• encourage children to keep passwords and personal information private
• talk about who children communicate with online
• remind children that not everything they see online is true
• encourage your child to tell you if something worries, frightens or upsets them
• reassure them that they will not be in trouble for asking for help.

Having regular, calm conversations is often more effective than waiting until something has gone wrong.

Children With Additional Needs

Some children may require more individualised support to understand online risks, recognise unsafe situations or communicate when something has happened.

At Medway, support can be adapted according to a child's communication, interaction, learning or developmental needs. Our wider provision already includes individual and bespoke approaches for children with complex communication, interaction and learning needs. 

Parents and carers who would like advice about supporting a child with SEND online can speak to the SENDCo or safeguarding team.

If Something Goes Wrong Online

Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult straight away if they:

• see something frightening, upsetting or inappropriate
• receive unwanted or upsetting messages
• are bullied online
• are asked to share a photograph, video or personal information
• are contacted by someone they do not know
• feel pressured to do something online
• receive inappropriate sexual messages or images
• are worried about something they have shared
• are concerned about a friend.

Where an online incident raises a safeguarding concern, the school will respond through its safeguarding procedures.

If you are concerned about your child's online safety, please speak to your child's teacher or a member of our safeguarding team.

Reporting Online Sexual Abuse

If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with a child online, this can be reported to the CEOP Safety Centre.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Useful Online Safety Resources

Internet Matters

Back to School Online Safety Guides
Practical, age-specific information to help parents and carers support children to have positive and safer experiences online.

Inclusive Digital Safety Advice for Parents and Carers
Advice for families supporting children who may be more vulnerable to online risks, including children with additional needs and disabilities.

UK Safer Internet Centre

Helping Children and Young People Stay Safe Online
Advice, resources and information for children, parents, carers and professionals about online safety.

Test Filtering

Test Your Internet Connection
A tool for checking whether categories of harmful online content are being filtered on an internet connection.

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Useful reminder for children

If something happens online that makes you worried, uncomfortable or scared, stop and tell a trusted adult. You will not be in trouble for asking for help.