Online Safety

Online safety is an important part of our safeguarding agenda at Penwortham Girls’ High School. As children across the country have spent more time online, the number of reported incidents relating to grooming has increased. It is important to monitor your daughter’s use of mobile devices and the internet to ensure she is safe.

Below are some links useful links and further information provided by the national agencies to help students, parents, and carers understand the threats that children may be exposed to on-line as well as ways of dealing with them.

We would encourage parents/carers to support their child by spending some time looking through the various links and discussing internet safety with your daughter.

As a school, we want to establish an online parent forum to consider how we can best support families with Online safety.

If you are interested in joining this forum please email s.hall@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk.

Online Safety and Use of Social Media Platforms

We are aware that may students are using a variety of social media platforms such as TikTok/Discord/WhatsApp and Snapchat etc.  While some of these platforms enable young people to socialise and can provide a creative outlet, there can be harmful effects, particularly when misused.  

We have security measures in school to help safeguard from any potential access to unsafe online material and e-safety is taught to all pupils.  However, we can only be successful in keeping children safe online if parents/carers also take an active role in supporting their child to use the internet and social media outlets responsibly. 

Remember: services like Facebook, You Tube, SnapChat and TikTok have a minimum age rating of 13 and WhatsApp is 16.  If you choose to allow your child to have these accounts, please discuss with them the boundaries you expect them to adhere to.   You know your child best and you should decide whether or not they can use apps / social media safely. 

There is lots of information available regarding keeping children and young people safe online and what you can do to support them.  Please visit https://saferinternet.org.uk/ where you can find useful resources, information regarding age ratings, getting to know, understand and add privacy settings.

The NSPCC offer a free online safety workshop for parents/carers and provide information about how to support your child and help keep them safe in the online world, please visit: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/free-online-safety-group-workshops/

The National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education team also provide a wealth of resources and information for parents.    This includes home safety activities, tips for parents and carers regarding sharing of images, gaming, live streaming as well as how to report concerns and get help; visit https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Keeping young people safe online can seem like a daunting task but having a conversation about ways to keep safe is a great start.

Reporting

Out of school:

Online abuse should be reported. 

You can report online abuse, harassment, malicious messaging or sharing of sexual images by calling the Police tel: 101 or make a report online.

https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/PEDisclaimer/Create

If you believe a child is in immediate danger please notify the Police immediately by calling 999. 

You should report abuse directly to the social media site administrators.  If you are worried about exploitation you can make a report to one of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Advisors (CEOP) https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

In school:

Online abuse should be reported.

You can report concerns to school by contacting school directly either by phone or email. 

Your daughter can report concerns to their Form Tutor, Head of Year, member of the Pastoral Support Team, Designated Safeguarding Lead / Deputy Safeguarding Lead or any other member of staff in school.  Students can either speak to a member of staff face-to-face, email, use of the safe@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk  email or report confidentially via Impero Confide.

Keeping young people safe online can seem like a daunting task for parents / carers but having a conversation about ways to keep safe is a great start.

Lucy Faithfull Foundation

‘A guide for parents of children and young people who have got into trouble online’

The guide has been created for parents and carers who find their child is engaged in worrying inappropriate or illegal behaviour online.

The guide is designed to answer some of the immediate questions you may have after learning about something that is happening, or has happened, in your child’s online life. It offers guidance on how to talk with your child about it and help prevent it happening again.

Parents can call The Lucy Faithful Foundation Helpline at any time on 0808 1000 900 and speak with experienced operators. All calls are completely anonymous. The link to the guide can be found below;

https://www.parentsprotect.co.uk/files/LFF%20ELEC%20Resource%20Pack%20for%20Parents_MAY21.pdf

If you would like further information and support about online safety please drop an email to the address below 

c.arrowsmith@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk

National Online Safety Mobile App

Children are spending more time than ever online. As adults, we need to do everything we can to keep them safe in the digital world. But with new apps, games and platforms emerging every day, how can you stay in the know?

Say hello to the new National Online Safety mobile application. Created by experts, developed by us. With all online safety knowledge available at your fingertips, the NOS app empowers parents and teachers to understand and address online safeguarding risks – any time, anywhere.

The world’s most comprehensive online safety app, it’s packed with insightful courses, explainer videos, webinars and guides on topics that will help you protect the kids you care about when they’re online.

National Online Safety Mobile App

 

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 Inappropriate Images

The internet is a great place but there can be dangers. If people ask you to send or post pictures that are inappropriate you can get support using the link below;

Block. Report. Tell someone you trust.  https://gurlsoutloud.com/

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