Using Internet and Smartphones Safely
Parent Info is a collaboration between CEOP and The Parent Zone. Parent Info provides high quality information to parents and carers about their children's wellbeing and resilience. This service is free and covers a wide range of topics from e-safety, sex and relationships, body image and peer pressure, to broader parenting topics like ‘how much sleep do teenagers need?’ In line with CEOP’s Thinkuknow programme, some of the content covers internet safety, but it all starts from the assumption that young people make little distinction between their online and offline lives and the issues for parents are often the same. The aim is to help parents help their children be discriminating, web-literate and resilient. Click on the link below to access information from their website.
There are real advantages in maintaining an open dialogue with your child about their internet use. Not sure where to begin? These conversation starters can help.
The internet is an amazing resource which enables children and young people to connect, communicate and be creative in a number of different ways, on a range of devices. However, the internet and social networks are always changing, and being able to keep up to date with your children’s use of technology can be a challenge. You may sometimes feel that your children have better technical skills than you do, but children and young people still need advice and protection when it comes to managing their lives online. As you are aware, the Billericay School has a ‘no phones in school’ policy. This is to help reduce instances of loss, theft or accidental damage, eradicate any inappropriate social media usage whilst in school and also to give children a much needed break from this aspect of technology and its impact on their lives. We are ever mindful that children need to be taught how to use their smartphones and social networks safely and sensibly. Children receive that guidance at school through various areas of the curriculum, for example, ICT and PD, and also through assemblies and form time. As children are getting smart phones at an increasingly younger age, we thought it might be helpful if we shared with you some tips and advice and also pointed you in the right direction to find out more. This may help increase your own understanding of the social media used by children and also assist you in monitoring your child’s use.
There is a wealth of information below. You’ll find practical advice, guides to specific sites and links to more support and information. In short:
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Student Services who may be able to advise further or put you in touch with a member of staff who can.
Useful Advice and Guidance
There are also useful videos on the NSPCC website and also produced by ThinkUKnow on youtube. The link below is NCA-CEOP Command's Thinkuknow education programme's new resource called 'Nude Selfies: What parents and carers need to know'. The films cover why young people send nude selfies, how to talk to your child about them, when you should be worried and when to get help.
'Nude Selfies: What parents and carers need to know'
• The site www.net-aware.org.uk tells you everything you need to know about apps and social network sites. Just type in the name and it will explain what the app/site does and how people use it.
• More e-safety information and advice can be found on www.childnet.com, www.connectsafely.org, and www.ceop.police.uk.
Useful leaflets:
- AParentsguidetoFacebook
- Cyberbullying-Howtokeepyourchildsafe
- E-Safety-Billericay-School-parent-factsheet
- E-safety-Support-Report-What-every-parent-needs-to-know-about-radicalisation
- Onlinegrooming-Howtokeepyourchildsafe
- Sexting-Howtokeepyourchildstaysafe