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Child Safety
Please note that it was Internet Safety day on February 9th 2010. Please take time to read the following information
Internet Safety
Internet Safety is taught by staff that are trained by CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre). We use the ThinkUknow Education Programme. Please note that all ICT staff are fully trained to deliver the 'think you know' materials.
Students learn about the risks encountered whist using the internet and other interactive technology. The lessons focus on;
- How to recognise and manage potential risks associated with their online activities,
- How to behave responsibly online,
- How to judge what kind on online relationships are acceptable and unacceptable,
- How to recognise when pressures from others in the online environment may threaten their personal safety and well being and how to develop effective ways of resisting pressure,
- How to stay in control and report a problem.
We show a number of powerful short films to educate students about the risks they may encounter when using the internet. Importantly, the presentation seeks to empower children to know how to report a problem, including abuse.
Child Abuse and Information Communication Technology (ICT)
The range of child abuse definitions and concepts (as defined within the Children Act 1989) are now being seen in ICT environments. As new and emerging technologies develop so will the motivation of those intent on abusing children to use technology to facilitate their abuse of children.
The internet has become a particular tool in the distribution of abusive images of children. Internet chat rooms, peer to peer, discussion forums and the new phenomena of “social networking” are now being used as a means of contacting children with a view to grooming them online for inappropriate or abusive relationships either on or offline. This can involve inciting children to make and transmit indecent images of themselves or perform sexual acts in front of a web cam. There is also a growing concern about the number of children meeting up with people in the real world who they first met online.
Advice for Parents
- Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to
- Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used
- Keeping the computer in a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience – and that they are less likely to act inappropriately (i.e. via web cam)
- Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends — personal information includes their messenger ID, email address, mobile number and any pictures of themselves, their family or friends.
- If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it.
- Remind them that anyone may be looking at their images and one day a future employer could!
- If your child receives spam/junk email & texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them.
- It’s not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don’t know. They won’t know what they contain — it could be a virus, or worse — an inappropriate image or film.
- Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it’s better to keep online mates online.
- They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult they trust.
- Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Teach young people how to block someone online and how to report them if they feel uncomfortable.
Recommended Web sites for advice on Internet Safety
www.ceop.gov.uk
www.thinkuknow.co.uk
www.getnetwise.org
www.digizen.org/cyberbullyingCyberbullying
Cyberbullying, is "when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person."
In Tamarside whenever it is possible we discuss the potential impacts of cyberbullying and have used various resources.
One fantastic website that discusses the issues and impact of cyberbullying is www.digizen.org made by Childnet.
On this website there is a video that shows the impact that cyberbullying can have on a child. http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullfilm.aspx
It would be really helpful if you could discuss the issues surrounding cyberbullying with your son/daughters.
There are plenty of other great websites and videos that tackle cyberbullying. I would recommend opening www.youtube.com and searching for ‘cyberbullying’ as there are loads that really get the message across.
If you have any concerns about cyberbullying that takes place in school please contact your son/daughter’s Pastoral Manager. If cyberbullying is taking place outside of school I would recommend the following;
- Establish the nature of the bullying by visiting www.stopcyberbullying.org.
- Contact your local police station and ask for their advice
- Contact the mobile phone company for their advice
- Report the bullying through the social networking sites e.g. www.bebo.com or www.facebook.com by visiting the safety areas and reporting the incident to the safety teams
- If there is a video on www.youtube.com that is causing concern then you can flag it to Youtube by clicking on the flag under the video and completing the report.