Online Safety Guidance

Due to increased access to numerous different technology platforms, many children are at a greater risk of online grooming, cyber bullying and exposure to inappropriate content online. At Thornton, we believe that online safety is a critical part of protecting the wellbeing and safety of our pupils online. We believe it is important for us to work in partnership with parents to keep pupils safe online.  

 

Like in other areas of safeguarding, 'prevention is better than cure.' As a result, we explicitly teach online safety. This is undertaken in dedicated lessons, assemblies and in themed weeks. Furthermore, pupils carry a copy of the Pupil Code of Conduct in their schools diaries.

 

We have a number of procedures in place to ensure children cannot access unsuitable websites when using school technology, including software which blocks all websites with adult, violent or age-inappropriate content. Social media sites are also blocked, unless they are school pages used within lessons and under supervision.

 
 
Our polices which relate to online safety include:
 
  • Safeguarding Policy,
  • Anti-Bullying Policy,
  • Online Safety Policy,
  • Acceptable Use Agreement (Parent and Pupils)
 
If any incidents breaching these policies occur, they are logged, investigated and managed in accordance with the relevant policy.  Two of these policies are set out below for you to read and learn how we keep children safe and how you can support this at home. The Safeguarding Policy can be found separately on the safeguarding page of the website.  Parents can read and use the Internet Safety Parent guide to help them speak to their children about staying safe whilst using the internet.