Online Safety

Please remember that the minimum legal age for holding an account on most popular social media platforms - including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat - is 13 years old.

Online safety is a vital part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is fully embedded throughout learning at school. We are equally keen to support parents and carers in developing their understanding of online safety, so that children can enjoy using the internet and digital technologies safely, responsibly and confidently at home.

Online Safety at Home

As parents, you will be aware of how central the internet is to children’s everyday lives. They use it to learn, play, socialise and be creative. The online world offers fantastic opportunities, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Many parents understandably have concerns about online risks such as cyberbullying, contact from strangers, or exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.

One of the most effective ways to keep children safe online is to maintain open and regular conversations about their digital lives. Below are some helpful discussion starters adapted from www.childnet.com

Ask your child about the websites, apps and games they enjoy and what they like doing online.
Talk about online safety together - what rules do they follow, and what advice would they give you? Discuss what is safe and appropriate to share online.
Ask if they know how to access safety settings, privacy controls, and how to block or report users on the platforms they use.
Encourage them to support others - they may be able to help you learn something new online or offer advice to friends who need support.
Consider how your family uses the internet together and how you can make the most of digital opportunities in positive ways.

Support and Guidance for Parents

To help families keep up with the fast-moving world of technology and social media, we recommend the following trusted resources. These sites offer practical advice, parent guides and age-appropriate information:

Google Be Internet Legends - Explore Interland and learn how to stay safe online
National Online Safety - Free app for parents:

Download for Apple: hubs.ly/H0BwQjL0

Download for Android: hubs.ly/H0Bx0tp0

Childnet - A wide range of resources and an interactive video on keeping children safe online
ThinkUKnow - Advice for parents on topics such as gaming, online communication and stranger danger, searchable by age or topic
Internet Matters - Guidance on cyberbullying, social media safety and talking to children about online risks
Parent Info (DofE) - Expert advice and support for parents found here

Additional useful links include:

You will also find user guides for popular games and online platforms at the bottom of this page.

Online Safety at School

In school, children access the internet only during teacher-supervised lessons. We strongly believe that the internet is an essential and valuable learning tool, helping children develop skills they will need as they grow up in a digital world.

To minimise risks, we take a proactive approach to online safety. Children are taught how to use the internet safely, responsibly and securely. Our internet service provider, Trafford MBC, uses a robust filtering system called Fortigate to block inappropriate content. In addition, we use Impero monitoring software, which monitors online activity and keyboard use within the Digital Hub.

Online safety education is delivered through a dedicated computing unit from EYFS through to Year 6, reinforced by regular discussions and reminders whenever technology is used across the curriculum.

As part of our Computing Curriculum, children regularly use the following platforms: