Safeguarding
Keeping our children safe is the number one priority for parents, carers and all school staff. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and in school we have specific Safeguarding Leads who deal with any safeguarding issues that may arise. These are
- Mrs Page (Headteacher) Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mr Jones (Deputy Head) Deputy Safeguarding Lead
- Mrs Hunter (Parent Liaison Officer) Deputy Safeguarding Lead
- Mrs Alton (SENCO/ KS1 Assistant Head) Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Online safety and support
When it comes to the internet, for many of us things can be a bit mysterious and sometimes our children seem to know far more about it than we do. However, just as with other potential dangers, like crossing the road, we must take steps to be in a position that we can supervise, guide and protect our children. Children think they know everything and think that the stories they hear won't happen to them. Sadly, the children who have got into danger by using the internet, probably thought the same.
By following the Key Advice and perhaps familiarising ourselves with some of the content from the websites below, we can take huge steps in protecting our children.
Some Key Advice for Parents:
-Create a culture of sharing at home so it becomes just part of home life that parents are interested in what their children are doing on the computer/internet.
-Keep the computer in a family room.
-If children wouldn't normally do it in the real world then it's not acceptable in the virtual world either.
-Put time restrictions on children's computer/internet use.
-Install the Safety Dolphin to home computers.
-Set preferences to Google Strict Search for Google Images.
-Any webcams should only be attached to a computer in a family room.
-A friend online is not the same as a friend in real life.
-Take an interest in your children's online friends, just as you would do with their friends in real life.
-Internet Safety is about behaviour and not ICT, just as Road Safety is about behaviour around roads and not about the traffic which drives on them.
-Don't unplug the internet! Remember the internet is a brilliant resource but it does reflect the best and worst of human nature. We cannot eliminate every risk to children but we can minimise the risks to an extent that children remain as safe as possible – again very similar to road safety.
Some Excellent Websites
If you have any questions or concerns about this topic, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Page or any of our Designated Safeguarding Leads at the school.
If you have a concern about a child or young person's welfare who lives in County Durham, call First Contact on 03000 267 979. First Contact brings together children's services staff with partners such as Durham Constabulary and health services.
