At Leigh Academy Blackheath, we have an established “no phones” policy in place. This means that students are not permitted to use their phones at any point while onsite. Whilst this limits day-to-day online issues, this does not mean that bullying and unkindness through social media does not spill into students' school lives. It is therefore essential that parents and carers monitor phones regularly to ensure that their child is safe.

Last week, staff attended a virtual Cyberbullying workshop run by TechSafe.

TechSafe are a charity who deliver online safety training and workshops. TechSafe has a range of apps that can be downloaded onto your phone, with tips and practical advice in regards to social media, teenage pressures, sexting, online bullying, gaming and mental health.

Below are some useful links to explore:

https://techsafe.org.uk/ - Whether you are a parent, carer, teacher, social worker or in any role that cares for children’s safety online, these free resources on TechSafe are designed for you to click and go and enjoy exploring safe practice online. The Online Safety resources are also designed for families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) including autism and ADHD and for the Fostering community.

https://www.childnet.com/ - Helping make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.

https://www.internetmatters.org/ - Helping parents and carers keep their children safe online.

https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/ - Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you or your child online? Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors.

https://reportharmfulcontent.com/ - If you've experienced or witnessed harm online, Report Harmful Content can help. RHC can help you to report harmful content online by providing up to date information on community standards and direct links to the correct reporting facilities across multiple platforms.

Childline, YoungMinds, Kooth and The Mix were recommended as a safe place for young people to communicate with professionals and other students if they are being cyberbullied or have concerns about online safety.

We recently sent out a letter to parents/carers from the Metropolitan Police regarding students spending more time online during the summer holidays and the risks this can have from those looking to radicalise and draw young people into extremism. Please find more information in the booklet below: