Online Safety is an ever growing and changing area of interest and concern. The internet and related technologies, including mobile devices such as phones, gaming media, tablets, and watches, are developing rapidly and are integral to the daily lives of many of our students.

Many of these technologies are used to enable students to engage creatively with their learning. Socially, our students often use the internet for entertainment, interaction and communication with ‘friends’ – bringing about new risks which many adults were never faced with. It has never been more important for parents and carers to understand how their children use the internet and associated technologies, so that they can help to manage the risks that exist and reinforce the important online safety messages that we should all be promoting.

At Thornden we do not expect to see mobile phones or devices unless a student is specifically directed to do so.  Where teachers wish students to use a mobile phone to enhance learning they will request them to do so.

Online Safety Advice for Parents

The following provide useful links for parents to gain useful advice on how to help to ensure that children stay safer online:

Parent Info: https://parentinfo.org/

Childnet International: https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers

Digizen: https://www.digizen.org/parents/

Thinkuknow: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

Internet Matters: https://www.internetmatters.org/

Keeping Children Safe Online, NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/

CEOP: https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

Hampshire PCC - Coronavirus: https://www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/coronavirus

Guidance Sheets on Key Forms of Social Media/Apps

The following checklists provide key factual information for some of the most common forms of social media and apps that are becoming popular:

Facebook Checklist

Instagram Checklist

Snapchat Checklist

Twitter Checklist

Amigo App

Sendit App

Social Media & Health

TikTok