Online Safety
At Marus Bridge Primary School, keeping our children safe online is a shared responsibility between school and home. As technology plays an increasingly important role in children's lives, it is essential that they learn how to use the internet safely, responsibly and respectfully. Throughout the year, pupils are taught about online safety through our curriculum, helping them to understand how to stay safe, protect their personal information and make positive choices when using digital devices and online platforms.
To support parents and carers, we provide access to our Smoothwall Online Safety platform through the school website. This valuable resource offers up-to-date information, guidance and practical advice on a wide range of online safety topics, including social media, gaming, screen time, parental controls and emerging online risks. We encourage all families to make use of these resources to help start important conversations at home and ensure children can enjoy the benefits of technology safely and confidently. Please visit the platform Online Safety Hub - Marus Bridge Primary School for specialized guidance and E-Safety packs
Follow our SMART rules: 5 Top Tips to stay safe online!
1. Safe:
Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you’re chatting or posting online. Personal information includes your email address, phone number and password.
2. Meet:
Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents’ or carers’ permission and even then only when they can be present. Remember online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.
3. Accepting:
Accepting emails, IM messages, or opening files, images or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!
4. Reliable:
Someone online might lie about who they are and information on the internet may not be true. Always check information by looking at other websites, in books, or with someone who knows. If you like chatting online it’s best to only chat to your real world friends and family.
5. Tell:
Tell a parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone, or something, makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online.
Child Friendly E-Safety Links
https://Marusbridge.onlinesafetyhub.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/onlinesafety/
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/cybercafe/
http://www.fkbko.co.uk/root/Kids/Under_13s/Introduction.htm
http://www.phonebrain.org.uk/default.aspx
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/
Our School's Role in Keeping Children Safe Online
At Marus Bridge Primary School, we work closely with parents and carers to help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to use technology safely and responsibly. Online safety is an important part of safeguarding and is embedded throughout school life.
How We Support Online Safety
Teaching Online Safety
Online safety is taught as part of our curriculum from an early age and is regularly reinforced through lessons, assemblies and wider safeguarding activities. Children learn how to stay safe online, make responsible choices, protect their personal information and know what to do if something makes them feel worried or uncomfortable.
Policies and Support
Our Online Safety Policy is available to parents and carers and outlines how we promote safe and responsible technology use across the school. If you have any concerns about online safety or a child's online activity, please contact a member of our safeguarding team, who will be happy to offer advice and support.
Working in Partnership with Families
Technology and online trends change rapidly, so we regularly share guidance and resources with families through newsletters, website updates and parent communications. This helps keep parents informed about new apps, online risks and practical ways to support children at home.
Talking to Your Child About Online Safety
Regular conversations about online activity can help children feel comfortable seeking support if they have concerns. Some useful conversation starters include:
"Who do you enjoy chatting with online?"
"What are your favourite games, apps or websites at the moment?"
"What do you enjoy most about being online?"
"What would you do if you saw something online that worried or upset you?"
"How can we work together to make sure screen time is balanced and healthy?"
"Do you know who you could talk to if you needed help online?"
Working Together to Keep Children Safe
Online safety is most effective when schools and families work together. By maintaining open conversations, showing an interest in children's online lives and keeping up to date with emerging technologies, we can help children enjoy the many benefits of the digital world safely and confidently.
If you have any questions about online safety, concerns about your child's online activity or would like support with parental controls and device settings, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We are always happy to help and advise.
Specific Risks and Guidance for Popular Apps and Online Platforms
As part of our commitment to keeping children safe online, we encourage parents and carers to be aware of the apps, games and platforms that children may use outside of school. Understanding the potential risks and knowing how to use available safety features can help children enjoy technology safely and responsibly.
TikTok
Recommended Minimum Age: 13 years and above
Potential Risks:
Exposure to inappropriate or unsuitable content through personalised recommendations.
Contact from unknown users through messaging features.
Live streaming and user-generated content that may not always be age-appropriate.
Excessive screen time and over-reliance on social media platforms.
How Parents Can Help:
Explore the platform alongside your child to understand how content is recommended through the ‘For You’ feed.
Ensure accounts are set to private and review privacy settings regularly.
Restrict who can comment on, view or message your child.
Talk to your child about how algorithms work and encourage them to think critically about the content they view online.
YouTube
Potential Risks:
Exposure to content that may be unsuitable for younger viewers.
Recommendations can sometimes lead children to content that is misleading, inappropriate or inaccurate.
Challenges, trends and influencers may encourage unsafe behaviours.
How Parents Can Help:
Use YouTube Kids for younger children, which offers enhanced parental controls and age-appropriate content.
Enable Restricted Mode on standard YouTube accounts to help filter potentially mature content.
Encourage children to think critically about what they watch and remind them that not everything online reflects real life.
Watch videos together where possible and discuss any concerns openly.
Online Gaming (Including Roblox and Minecraft)
Potential Risks:
Communication with other players through chat and messaging functions.
Exposure to inappropriate language or behaviour from other users.
In-game purchases and pressure to spend money on virtual items.
Excessive gaming and screen time.
How Parents Can Help:
Familiarise yourself with the games your child plays and understand their features.
Make use of parental controls to manage communication settings and restrict interactions with strangers.
Set clear expectations around screen time and healthy online habits.
Discuss online friendships and remind children never to share personal information.
Messaging Apps (Including WhatsApp and Snapchat)
Recommended Minimum Age: Most messaging and social media apps are intended for users aged 13 and above.
Potential Risks:
Contact from individuals who are not known to the child.
Sharing of personal information, images or locations.
Peer pressure, group chats and online disagreements.
Exposure to inappropriate content.
How Parents Can Help:
Ensure your child only communicates with people they know and trust.
Review privacy and location settings together.
Teach children never to share personal information online.
Show them how to block, mute and report users if they experience any concerns.
Encourage open conversations about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable online.
Online Safety Resources for Parents and Carers
There are a number of trusted organisations that provide excellent advice, guidance and support for families:
NSPCC – Practical advice on talking to children about online safety and managing online risks.
UK Safer Internet Centre – Information, guides and resources specifically designed for parents and carers.
Internet Matters – Up-to-date guidance on apps, games, devices, parental controls and digital wellbeing.
Thinkuknow – Educational resources and advice from the National Crime Agency to help children stay safe online.
We also encourage parents and carers to access the Smoothwall Online Safety Platform via our school website. This valuable resource provides the latest information on popular apps, online trends, gaming platforms and emerging digital risks, alongside practical advice to help families support safe and responsible technology use at home. By working together, we can help ensure that every child develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to navigate the online world safely.
