As children move up through the school their access to various types of technology increases and it stands to reason that their exploration and curiosity increases too. The positives of the digital world overwhelmingly outweigh the negatives but children, schools and parents all need to be aware of various online risks. At Wareham St Mary CE Primary School, we teach children about online safety in every year group at an age-appropriate level as part of the Computing and PSHE curriculum. The safe use of social media and the internet will also be covered in other subjects where relevant. We use assemblies/worships to raise pupils’ awareness of how to engage with online content and navigate the internet responsibly and safely, and we may also invite speakers to talk to pupils about this.

Keeping Children Safe Online

We take online safety seriously and have measures in place to help protect pupils while using technology in school:

• Internet filtering systems are used on school devices
• Supervised access to online content and resources
• Clear expectations for safe and responsible use of technology (acceptable use agreement)
• Regular staff training on online safety and safeguarding

‘1 in 5 internet users in the UK are children.’

Advice for Children

We encourage all children to remember these simple rules:

• Always tell an adult if something online makes you feel uncomfortable or worried: ‘block, report, tell’.
• Never share personal information such as your name, address, school or passwords.
• Be kind and polite when talking to others online.
• Stop and think before clicking on links or buttons.
• Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are.
• Prioritise your health and take regular screen breaks.

Advice for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children stay safe online. We recommend that you:

• Talk regularly with your child about their online activities.
• Keep devices in shared family spaces where possible.
• Monitor age-restrictions and review content to ensure it is age-appropriate. 
• Use parental controls and privacy settings.
• Agree boundaries for screen time and online use.
• Encourage children to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Useful Online Safety Resources

The following websites provide trusted advice and guidance for families:

• Thinkuknow – advice for children and parents about staying safe online
• NSPCC Online Safety – guides, tools and support for parents
• Internet Matters – practical tips, controls and age‑appropriate advice
• Barnardos Keeping Children Safe Online - explains what parents and carers need to know about end-to-end encryption and how to keep children safe online.
• Dorset Police Safer Schools and Communities Team (SSCT) - a partnership between Dorset Police, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service with a remit to help keep children safe in a digital world. 

• A guide to social media platform age restrictions can be found below.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity every year for schools and parents to focus on online safety with children, whatever their age. Safer Internet Day takes place in February with celebrations and learning based around a theme linked to online safety.

Other useful links

The Partnership has an IT and Communications Systems Policy which can be found on the Coastal Learning Partnership website here.

The Parent Code of Conduct can be found here. This outlines the expectations of all communications via email and on social media.

The Acceptable use of the ICT Network, school systems and internet Agreement for Wareham St Mary CE Primary School can be found below.

Concerns or Questions

If you have any concerns about online safety or would like further advice, please contact the schools Online Safety Champion:

By working together, we can help our children develop safe, positive and confident online habits.