At The Coppice we understand that the online world is a significant part of our pupils’ lives and that it can be a positive tool, e.g. to enhance their learning. We also know that there are risks posed to pupils online.

We believe it is important for us to work in partnership with Parents and Carers to keep pupils safe online.  

Through the #WakeUpWednesday initiative, we aim to equip Parents and Carers with the knowledge and skills they need to keep up with the latest information, implement best practice and heighten their awareness of issues around online safety.

Relevant to all parents, from early years through to Year 6, the #WakeUpWednesday resources will be uploaded to this webpage on a regular basis. They can also be accessed both on a desktop and via the #WakeUpWednesday app, providing instant and easy access:

What can parents do to help protect children online?

As Parents, and Carers, you play an essential role in protecting your children online. There are lots of ways you can help to minimise the risks and increase the awareness of online safety in your home. We have listed some of the ways you can do this below:

• Talk to your children about why it is important to stay safe online. Explain that whilst the internet is a fun, exciting and knowledge-rich tool, it is also a place where people may wish to bring them into dangerous activities or expose them to harmful material. It is important to be clear that you are not saying your child may never use the internet again, or that everything on it is harmful – it is about teaching them to have a greater awareness and to be able to manage and report any risks.
• Only give your children devices or access to devices that you feel comfortable with, and not as a result of peer-pressure deriving from their classmates and/or friends who are also using those devices.
• Discuss rules for being online and draw them up together, including which sites, games, etc., are acceptable. If certain games are off-limits, try to explain why –  for example, because of excessive violence. If your child uses online gaming, consider setting rules such as only talking to others in the same age range and having the conversation on speaker, rather than headphones, so you can monitor it.
• Discuss what information should be private and what is okay to share; for example, addresses, names of schools, and names should never be given out to strangers online, as this could allow them to identify where your child goes to school or lives. 
• Keep an open dialogue with your child – letting them know they can always talk to you about anything that has made them feel uncomfortable online is key to keeping them safe.
• Ensure all devices used by your child are kept in a communal space, or a space where they can be supervised whilst using their devices. Use controls and boundaries which mean that your child is not using devices when they need to be resting and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Set parental controls – do this as a dialogue with your child so they are aware of what they are not allowed to view; however, do not rely on parental controls on devices, as they are not always 100 percent effective and many children know how to bypass them.  
• Make sure your child knows how to report or ‘block’ unsuitable content, messages or people online – show them how to block on the websites or games they frequently use and explain that they can always tell you, a teacher or another adult if they experience anything which makes them feel uncomfortable. 

No electronic equipment, including mobile phones, should be brought to school unless prior agreement has been sought from the Headteacher. We do allow our Year 5 and 6 children, who walk to and from school on their own with signed permission from their Parent and Carers to have a phone with them for safety purposes. However, we strictly apply the rule that all phones are handed in on entry to the school building and are only returned at the end of the school day when the children are exiting the school.

Understanding and navigating apps and platforms:

Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages, particularly with the amount of different apps and platforms that are out there. We have therefore provided advice by way of a number of links and factsheets to help you learn about how to keep your children and all members of your family safe online. The links below contain valuable resources and activities for parents and children. Please take some time to have a look.

We are also aware that many children of primary school age have access to mobile internet technology such as smart phones and tablets. In light of this we have also included links to a number of mobile operator’s sites that have sections of their website dedicated to E-Safety.