St Peters C of E Primary School SE17

Online Safety

What is online safety?

Online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets. Being safe online means individuals are protecting themselves and others from online harms and risks which may jeopardise their personal information, lead to unsafe communications or even effect their mental health and wellbeing.

Why is online safety so important?

The Internet has become a vital and integral part of all of our lives and when used well it is a powerful learning tool. Being online, during the school closures and lockdowns, was and continues to be, a lifeline for many children. As well as providing them with education and socialising, it also became a form of support.

Many of our children are more confident users than adults, which can make it difficult for adults to keep a track of the latest applications, websites and online behaviours. For parents and carers, this opens up a whole new world of platforms to be aware of, in particular, the need to ensure your child’s safe and responsible use of technology. Online safety, also known as e-safety or internet safety, is extremely important in making sure both adults and children feel safe, secure and confident when accessing and engaging with content online.

What do the statistics say?

Who is responsible for keeping children safe online?

We all are.

Children are responsible for behaving appropriately online and reporting damaging, harmful or misleading content they see online.
Parents are responsible for having an understanding of what their children are accessing at home, adding safety controls to their home networks and updating themselves on the latest software that their children might be accessing.
Schools have a dual responsibility when it comes to online safety: to ensure the school's online procedures keep children and young people safe, and to teach them about online safety, in and outside of school.