Online Safety

Technology plays an important part in children’s education and everyday lives, but it can also present safeguarding risks.

Online safety is therefore an important part of safeguarding at St Patrick’s and is taught throughout the curriculum.

Children learn about:

• keeping personal information safe;
• communicating respectfully online;
• cyberbullying;
• gaming and social media;
• inappropriate and harmful content;
• online friendships and grooming;
• sharing photographs and videos safely;
• misinformation and fake content;
• artificial intelligence and AI-generated images;
• what to do if something online worries or upsets them.

Filtering and Monitoring

School devices and internet access are protected by appropriate filtering and monitoring systems.

These arrangements are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our pupils.

Filtering does not replace adult supervision. Staff remain responsible for supervising children’s use of technology and reporting any concerns.

Helping Children Stay Safe at Home

Parents and carers play a vital role in online safety.

We encourage families to:

• talk regularly about what children are doing online;
• check age ratings for games and apps;
• use parental controls where appropriate;
• agree clear family rules about devices;
• encourage children to tell a trusted adult if something online makes them uncomfortable or frightened.

Useful sources of advice include CEOP, Childline, Internet Matters, NSPCC Online Safety and the UK Safer Internet Centre.