Online Safety

The Internet has become part of our everyday lives and is now easier to access than ever before, but using the Internet can also have risks. Children and young people are more at risk of exposure to inappropriate or criminal behaviour if they are unaware of the dangers.

These dangers include:

  • Viewing unsuitable content e.g. hate material, adult content, sites that endorse unhealthy behaviour
  • Giving out personal information
  • Arranging to meet an online ‘friend’
  • Becoming involved in, or the victim of, bullying, identity theft, or making and sending indecent or illegal images
  • Spending too much time online which can effect concentration, education, sleep and health
  • Copying information from the Internet or buying work from other people to use as their own

Worried about something your child has accessed online? Click on the following links to help you report:

CEOP reporting button: Report to CEOP

ChildLine/IWF REPORT REMOVE too: Report Remove | Childline

REPORT HARMFUL CONTENT website: Report Harmful Content - We Help You Remove Content

IWF reporting tool for parents: Report online child sexual abuse imagery or 'child pornography

 

Online Safety Hub

We’re committed to helping families stay informed about the latest online safety challenges. Our Online Safety Hub provides practical advice, expert reviews, and guidance to protect children from new and emerging safeguarding risks and online harms. Via the hub, you’ll find detailed reviews of popular apps, games, and social media platforms, helping you understand potential risks and how to manage them. The hub also includes clear instructions for setting up and navigating parental controls, so you can confidently manage your child’s online activity.

Stay up to date with trends, tips, and resources designed to support your child’s digital wellbeing. Explore everything here: Online Safety Hub - Hamwic Education Trust.

 

Parental Controls

Parental controls are an important way to keep your child safe online.

Parental controls can be used to block upsetting or harmful content, control in-app purchases or manage how long your child spends online. The good news is parental controls are really easy to set up.  Innocent searches sometimes reveal not so innocent results. So if you're worried about what your child is searching for online, who they're talking to or what they're seeing the links below and websites from the likes of the NSPCC can help.  Along with talking to your child regularly, using parental controls is one of the best ways to help keep children safe online.

Parental Controls on Devices & Apps

Here are some useful links that can be sent to parents so that they are aware on how to apply parental controls to apps and devices for their children:

Texting Dictionary
Stay on top of the words children use online:

Texting Dictionary - terms used by children online | Internet Matters

Social Media Platforms Guide
Stay informed about the latest social media platforms children are using and learn how to help them navigate these spaces safely.

Social media apps and platforms safety guide | Internet Matters

The following website will help you review current apps, games, films and video content which your child may have access to. It is a great resource for helping you to decide if they are appropriate for the age of your child: Common Sense Media

Further helpful sites: