On February 5th Oxford Gardens will be celebrating Safer Internet Day.

Today’s technology gives our young people many wonderful and exciting opportunities to interact, communicate and learn, however, we all need to be aware of the risks as well as the benefits. Many pupils in primary schools are regular users of Fortnite, Youtube, Whatsapp, Instagram and Snapchat.

UK Safer Internet Survey and NSPCC statistics reminding us to help them enjoy the internet safely:

* Today’s children spend twice as long on screens than they will playing outside

* One in five 8 to 11 year olds and seven in ten 12 to 15 year olds has a social media profile

* 1 in 6 children 8-17 shared a photo online in the last hour, and 1 in 8 had shared a selfie in the last day.

* The research found that 43% of those asked worry about how attractive they look when they share images online. It also found that 45% had used a filter on a photo in the last year, with almost a third (31%) saying that most of the photos they share are on a public profile that can be seen by anyone.

* 70% of 8-17s said they have seen images and videos not suitable for their age in the last year and that almost 2 in 5 (38%) have received negative comments on a photo they have posted.

* 1 in 3 children have been a victim of cyberbullying.

* Almost 1 in 4 young people have come across racist or hate messages online

* There were over 2,100 counselling sessions with young people who talked to Childline about online child sexual exploitation (CSE)

 

At OGPS, we value technology as part of learning and respect the important part it plays in children’s lives today. We recognise that it is a very difficult balance to allow children independence on the internet as well as ensure they are safe at all times.

Many of our children regularly play games online at home and often communicate with their peers through them. Parent Zone is a very thorough website that offers a lot of impartial advice about keeping children safe online. It includes what to look out for 'in game chat' and an overview of what to look out for and how to report difficulties for all the most popular games (including Fortnite).

Parent Zone

Your involvement at home can help reinforce the key messages of staying safe online and help your child become more confident with dealing with online issues. Visit the Be Internet Legends website to try some fun family activities to help your child learn how to make the internet a safer and kinder place for everyone.

You can also help your child become a confident explorer of the online world with Interland, a free exciting online game which reinforces the Internet Legends Code.

In addition to these sources, the Safer Internet Day organisation have produced their own education pack which includes conversation starters and fun activities to do as a family. Please visit the Safer Internet website to locate the pack.

We hope that you have found this information helpful; we value your support in helping the children stay safe online.

Click here to read our letter all about SID 2019