ABOUT US COVID-19 GUIDANCE CURRICULAR EXTRA-CURRICULAR NEWS EVENTS GALLERIES HOME | ONLINE SAFETY ONLINE SAFETY Online safety at home Whilst we encourage your child to use technology to enhance their learning and digital skills it is still important that they are using it safely. The use of these modern technologies can put young people at risk within and outside school. Some dangers they may face include: Access to illegal, harmful or inappropriate images/other content  Un-authorised access to / loss of / sharing of personal information  The risk of being subject to grooming by those with whom they make contact on the internet The sharing / distribution of personal images without an individual’s  consent or knowledge Inappropriate communication / contact with others, including stranger At school we have many procedures in place to keep your child safe online, including firewalls and virus protection. But, how can you help keep your children safe whilst using technology at home? Tips for parents Here are just some of the things you can do with your child to help improve their online safety: Set parental settings and filters Be aware of what sites your children are visiting on the internet and use parental controls where appropriate. This will help to restrict their access to inappropriate websites and games that are not suitable for their age. Set parental controls on your broadband – this can be done by contacting your provider. Talk to your child Discuss with your child what they like to do online and what games they enjoy playing. By being interested this might encourage them to talk to you about all the sites they visit in the future. Ask them if they are talking to friends online or through their gaming stations e.g. Xbox and who those friends are. You may be surprised that they are possibly talking to people they have never met. Make it clear that they can talk to you about anything they may be concerned about at any time. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date Your anti-virus software can detect the latest virus infections and will quarantine them, so they do not damage your computer or files. New viruses are created every day and so by updating regularly you will be protected. Discuss information that should NOT be shared online, some examples include: Full name – first name is ok to use. Personal information like telephone numbers and addresses. If they are uploading pictures online – ask them to show you first and they you can decide if it is appropriate. Never discuss meeting up with someone you have never met before. What school they attend and outside clubs. Sexting (taking naked pictures or texting inappropriate messages) Only allow webcams in the main family area of the house. Make it clear that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to take or receive a sexual photo even if it is of themselves. Explain that when the picture or message has been sent, it cannot be taken back. Discuss the consequences of the picture/message getting into the wrong hands. Never share passwords with anyone. Passwords should be made secure by: Adding capital letters Adding numbers Using symbols Not making them obvious e.g. date of birth or name Cyber-bullying Encourage your child to talk to you or a teacher if they think they are being bullied and not to keep it to themselves. Discuss the importance of not participating in bullying online and to be aware that they leave a digital footprint and therefore will get discovered. Be aware of age ratings on games and social media sites Here are some common social media / apps that your child may want to use: Site/App Age rating 18 or 13 with your permission 16+ 13+ 13+ 13+ 13+ 13+ Websites for more information Below are some useful websites that you can find more information of these topics: Topic Websites General internet safety for parents http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zs83tyc https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/ http://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers Cyberbullying prevention https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention/index.html https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_13/Need-advice/Cyberbullying/ Sexting https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/sexting/ https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Nude-selfies-a-parents-guide/ Social media guidance for parents https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Reporting-to-social-media-sites-/ Using parental settings/filters on broadband https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/Parental-controls/ Information about what happens in an internet minute https://www.visualcapitalist.com/what-happens-in-an-internet-minute-in-2019/ UPCOMING EVENTS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS 20TH DECEMBER 2021 4TH JANUARY 2022 (4th January is an INSET day – School closed to pupils) INSET DAY 4TH JANUARY 2022 School closed to pupils FEBRUARY HALF TERM 21ST FEBRUARY 2022 25TH FEBRUARY 2022 INSET DAY 8TH APRIL 2022 School closed to pupils EASTER HOLIDAYS 11TH APRIL 2022 22ND APRIL 2022 BANK HOLIDAY 15TH APRIL 2022 Good Friday Tweets by gowertonschool CONTACT US GOWERTON SCHOOL Cecil Road Gowerton , Swansea SA4 3DL United Kingdom TEL: 01792 873461 FAX: 01792 873986 ARCHIVES ARCHIVES Select Month December 2021 (1) November 2021 (4) October 2021 (6) September 2021 (10) August 2021 (4) July 2021 (13) June 2021 (7) May 2021 (7) April 2021 (11) March 2021 (8) February 2021 (11) January 2021 (9) December 2020 (22) November 2020 (13) October 2020 (15) September 2020 (15) August 2020 (6) July 2020 (8) June 2020 (13) May 2020 (13) April 2020 (8) March 2020 (22) February 2020 (11) January 2020 (11) December 2019 (13) November 2019 (16) October 2019 (26) September 2019 (18) August 2019 (29) July 2019 (21) June 2019 (23) May 2019 (10) April 2019 (5) March 2019 (11) February 2019 (9) January 2019 (12) December 2018 (17) November 2018 (12) October 2018 (13) September 2018 (10) August 2018 (8) July 2018 (11) June 2018 (6) May 2018 (9) April 2018 (6) March 2018 (15) February 2018 (15) January 2018 (11) December 2017 (17) November 2017 (10) October 2017 (10) September 2017 (13) August 2017 (3) July 2017 (3) June 2017 (7) May 2017 (7) April 2017 (11) March 2017 (13) February 2017 (8) January 2017 (8) December 2016 (8) November 2016 (13) October 2016 (10) September 2016 (11) August 2016 (10) July 2016 (30) June 2016 (31) May 2016 (6) April 2016 (36) March 2016 (37) February 2016 (23) January 2016 (34) December 2015 (27) November 2015 (30) October 2015 (30) September 2015 (31) August 2015 (3) July 2015 (18) June 2015 (8) May 2015 (9) April 2015 (9) March 2015 (12) February 2015 (12) January 2015 (16) December 2014 (20) November 2014 (14) October 2014 (5) September 2014 (3) August 2014 (2) July 2014 (1) June 2014 (1) May 2014 (1) April 2014 (16) March 2014 (1) February 2014 (8) January 2014 (4) December 2013 (4) November 2013 (8) October 2013 (7) September 2013 (4) August 2013 (25) July 2013 (21) June 2013 (5) April 2013 (6) March 2013 (4) February 2013 (3) January 2013 (4) December 2012 (3) November 2012 (2) October 2012 (11) September 2012 (5) August 2012 (1) May 2012 (3) April 2012 (7) March 2012 (7) February 2012 (3) January 2012 (3) December 2011 (2) November 2011 (5) October 2011 (12) September 2011 (1) April 2011 (2) © GOWERTON SCHOOL: POWERED BY JUST 2 EASY & HWB