How safe is your child online?
My name is David Morrison and I am the E-Safety Officer. It is my responsibility not only to educate the pupils how to stay safe online, but parents and carers too. I also investigate any suspected breaches of online safety by anyone using our school network.
Technology moves forward at an alarming pace, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest gadgets, software and apps. Whilst the majority of users have no issues whilst online, we all need to be aware of the dangers which are out there, including grooming, underage sexting, live streaming, and cyberbullying.
Meade Hill’s network is monitored at all times to ensure that our children are kept safe. We have very strict search guidelines and no social media can be accessed via the school network. Each pupil has their own, unique log in and know that their passwords must be kept secret.
In Case of Emergency (ICE)
How would the emergency services know who you were or how to contact someone in the case of an accident/incident? Would they know what medical conditions you suffer from or what medication you may urgently need?
Setting up ICE allows emergency contacts and medical information to be accessed without the need to unlock the home screen. This is widely used and recommended by all the emergency services.
Set up instructions for the iPhone can be found here and for those who use an android phone, such as a Samsung please click here. If you own a different make – use a search engine (such as Google) and type ‘ICE set up for “your make of phone”. This should then give you step by step instructions how to set ICE up. If you are having problems, please contact me on the details below and I will do my best to help you.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for your child (and yourself) to have this function.
I will be making pupils aware of this system in school and hope that you will be able to discuss and set it up together, deciding which emergency contact numbers to use between you.
Any questions?
I am always available to be contacted at school either by phone (0161 696 0764) or via email ([email protected]). Please feel free to ask any questions relating to online activity, from keeping social media privacy settings as tight as possible, to discussing something that may be worrying you about the online activity of your child. Enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence, but in line with our safeguarding policies.
CEOP is short for Child Exploitation and Online Protection.
CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. This can be something that has taken place either online or in ‘the real world’, or both. The CEOP Safety Centre has clear information and advice on what can be reported to CEOP, the reporting process and what will happen if you do decide to make a report. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre and make a report directly to CEOP by clicking the Click CEOP button.
If you are experiencing online bullying or something else online has worried you please speak to an adult you trust, or you can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk.
www.thinkuknow.co.uk – this offers advice for both young people and parents/carers. It is split into convenient age groups and allows very young children to be introduced to online safety from a very young age. It also allows you to report abuse anonymously via their website, in conjunction with CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command).
UK Safer Internet Centre gives details on how to set up parental controls on your internet at home (Virgin, BT, TalkTalk, and SKY)
NSPCC – offering advice about online risks and how to keep children safe
www.barnardos.org.uk – tips and advice on who may be contacting your child
Crisis ‘phone numbers
Childline – 0800 1111
Samaritans – 116 123
Papyrus (Suicide Prevention Helpline) – 0800 068 4141 Text 07786209697
All the above numbers are free to call
