Parents

Online safety

Introduction - online learning - importance of staying safe

Whilst we are working remotely, we are developing new and more detailed ways to ensure student and staff safety from harm, upset and abuse. The following details are therefore intended to help you and your child understand how to keep safe whilst studying from home.


E-Safe use

WAT has invested in an online safeguarding package to help further protect your children. It will notify us of inappropriate searches or online activity and the school will then notify you accordingly so that you can discuss the matter and protect them from harmful online behaviour.


Reporting concerns

If you are concerned about your child’s safety online during remote learning, then please report it to school. The system remains exactly the same as before school closures and dependent upon individual school may include some of the following;


  • email your child's form tutor or classteacher

  • email your child's head of house/head of year/phase leader

  • email or phone key pastoral staff

  • phone the school on their normal phone line - all the trust schools are operating phone lines as normal

  • through established school online platforms, such as DOJO or sharpe system


DfE guidance and website links for online safety

The government has produced lots of detail on how to keep yourself and your child safe online:

Education during school closures

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Guidance on mental health and wellbeing

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak#helping-children-and-young-people-cope-with-stress


There are also some very useful websites links that give information about how to stay safe online and to help both parents and students manage particular apps and social media platforms safely:

  • Thinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on staying safe online

  • Parent info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations

  • Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support

  • Internet matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world

  • London Grid for Learning has support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online

  • Net-aware has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games

  • Let’s Talk About It has advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation

  • UK Safer Internet Centre has tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services


Bullying or abuse online

Please make direct contact with the school if your child is being bullied online. In addition, there are further links to help support on these matters from other agencies:

get advice and support from Anti-Bullying Alliance for children who are being bullied