Safeguarding Corner: Keeping Our Children Safe Online

In today's digital world, our students spend a significant amount of time online—whether for learning, gaming, or socialising. At Christ's College Finchley, we use the "4 Cs" framework to help students and parents understand the risks:

1. Content: Exposure to age-inappropriate or harmful material (e.g., violence, pornography, or fake news).

2. Contact: Interacting with strangers or being targeted by online groomers.

3. Conduct: How students behave online, including cyberbullying or sending inappropriate messages.

4. Commerce: Risks like "loot boxes" in games, online gambling, or phishing scams.

Top 5 Tips for Parents

1. Open the Dialogue Don't wait for a problem to arise. Talk to your child regularly about what they are doing online. Ask which apps they enjoy and why. If they feel they can talk to you without being judged, they are more likely to come to you when something goes wrong.

2. Set Digital Boundaries Agree on "tech-free" times and zones, such as during family meals or an hour before bedtime. Keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight is one of the most effective ways to prevent late-night browsing and ensure better sleep.

3. Use Parental Controls Most home Wi-Fi providers and devices (including iPhones, Androids, and gaming consoles) have built-in parental controls. These allow you to set age limits, block specific sites, and monitor screen time.

4. Check Privacy Settings Help your child set their social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat) to "Private." Discuss why they should only accept friend requests from people they actually know in the physical world.

5. Know the Reporting Tools Teach your child how to "Block" and "Report" users directly within apps. Remind them that if they ever feel unsafe, they can always email the school's confidential reporting address: safe@ccfplus.com.

Helpful Resources for Parents

• National Online Safety (NOS): Excellent "Wake Up Wednesday" guides for specific apps in ITL every week

• Internet Matters: Step-by-step guides for setting up parental controls.

• CEOP: To report serious concerns regarding online grooming.

"If you think it, say it. We are here to support you and your child."