Being online is an integral part of children and young people’s lives. Social media, online games, websites and apps can be accessed through mobile phones, computers, laptops and tablets – all of which form a part of children and young people’s online world.

The internet and online technology provides new opportunities for young people’s learning and growth, but it can also expose them to new types of risks.

E-safety forms a fundamental part of our schools’ safeguarding and child protection measures. Our staff are aware that technology offers many opportunities but is a significant component in many safeguarding and wellbeing issues. Children are at risk of abuse online as well as face to face. Children can also abuse their peers online, this can take the form of abusive, harassing, and misogynistic messages, the non-consensual sharing of indecent images, especially around chat groups, and the sharing of abusive images and pornography, to those who do not want to receive such content.

As a school, we aim to have a dual responsibility when it comes to e-safety: to ensure our school’s online procedures keep children and young people safe, and to teach our pupils about online safety, in and outside of school.

We hope that this page will signpost you to some resources that may be of use to help parents understand the dangers, how to help protect your children and also how to begin conversations with your child around keeping safe. 

At St Peter's, we believe it is important to teach pupils about the underpinning knowledge and behaviours that can help pupils to navigate the online world safely and confidently regardless of the device, platform or app. As our result, our e-safety curriculum aims to equip our pupils with the knowledge needed to make the best use of the internet and technology in a safe, considered and respectful way, so they are able to reap the benefits of the online world.

Our pupils will be taught about online safety and harms. This will include being taught what positive, healthy and respectful online relationships look like, the effects of their online actions on others and knowing how to recognise and display respectful behaviour online. Throughout the curriculum, teachers will address online safety and appropriate behaviour in an age appropriate way that is relevant to their pupils’ lives.

A combination of our computing and PSHE/RSHE curriculum covers the principles of online safety with progression in the content to reflect the different and escalating risks that pupils face. This includes how to use technology safely, responsibly, respectfully and securely, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

Support for children

Childline for free and confidential advice

UK Safer Internet Centre to report and remove harmful online content

CEOP for advice on making a report about online abuse

Parental support

Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support

Commonsensemedia provide independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media for children and their parents

Government advice about protecting children from specific online harms such as child sexual abuse, sexting, and cyberbullying

Government advice about security and privacy settings, blocking unsuitable content, and parental controls

Internet Matters provide age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world

Let’s Talk About It provides advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation

London Grid for Learning provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online

Stopitnow resource from The Lucy Faithfull Foundation can be used by parents and carers who are concerned about someone’s behaviour, including children who may be displaying concerning sexual behaviour (not just about online)

National Crime Agency/CEOP Thinkuknow provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online

Net-aware provides support for parents and carers from the NSPCC and O2, including a guide to social networks, apps and games

Parentzone provides help for parents and carers on how to keep their children safe online

Parent info from Parentzone and the National Crime Agency provides support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations

UK Safer Internet Centre provide tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online