Cherry Tree Academy Trust
Online Safety
Roles and Responsibilities
On-line safety is a very important aspect of strategic leadership within the Academy. The Executive Leader and Trustees have ultimate responsibility to ensure that the policy and practices are embedded and monitored. It is the role of the Online Safety Lead to keep abreast of current issues and guidance through organisations such as Becta, CEOP, NOS (National On-line Safety), NSPCC and Childnet.
We do promote the use of safe internet practices throughout the Academy and encourage these as the children leave our gates. We strongly advocate family involvement in how their children use the internet and other means of electronic communication.
Whilst we do not promote the use of social media or online gaming sites we understand that there are many children, with and without parental support, who use them. We believe in doing everything we can to make our children and their families aware of the difficulties, challenges and dangers that can arise from accessing age-inappropriate material and will promote this through our newsletters and website.
Throughout the Academy there are age appropriate signs explaining how we can be e-aware. Everyone is encouraged to report misuse of the internet and anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Similarly if staff find any cause for concern it will be tackled immediately and in line with the policies of the Academy.
On-line Safety in the Curriculum
We are continually updating how we teach children in the Academy how to stay safe on-line. We use follow a structured teaching programme that teaches and explores the use of the internet. Each year the children will visit eight aspects of online safety; self-image and identity, online relationships, online reputation, online bullying, managing online information, Health, well-being and lifestyle, privacy and security as well as copyright and ownership. We use a range of online accredited resources to support our teaching and pass these onto families.
How Families Can Help Support their Children
We regularly offer information events for families about how we teach computing and what the children are learning. We receive the support of the local police force who add to our message about keeping safe when using mobile phones, tablets, social media etc. They help us by keeping us up to date with trends and highlight areas of concern they find in their day to day role. We strongly recommend families and children use the CEOP website to support e-safety at home https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/ and the nspcc site https://www.net-aware.org.uk that has information for families to help support and guide children, as well as giving information about the minimum ages for social media and other apps.
We recommend that families follow the advice and guidance given on the CEOP website that covers a range of concerns and behaviours families may want to explore with their children.
Useful Websites and Support for Families
We have purchased access to the National Online Safety Website to which all families are invited to sign up to (please contact the academy office for further information). This website has many courses about how to keep your child safe online as well as lots of up to date information on national trends.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NationalOnlineSafety/videos/555060058287627/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j150BqInjnY&t=2s
NSPCC - guide for families with regards to online gaming
App Store Guide for Families
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/natonlinesafety/status/1055071945958531072
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NationalOnlineSafety/photos/a.1681508315488685/1907851202854394/?type=3&theater