Most of our students spend a great deal of time online. For some it has been the only place they felt comfortable during a long spell out of school.
That means the internet is not simply a risk to be managed here. It has often been a lifeline. Our approach is to teach students to look after themselves online rather than to lock everything down and hope for the best — because at some point they will be doing this without us.
What we do at school
We filter and monitor what can be reached on our network. Alongside that, online safety is taught: our Independent Life Skills programme includes six weeks on digital literacy and safety, covering phone security, emergency SOS features, spotting scams, and recognising when something online is not what it claims to be.
It also comes up in PSHCE, in Citizenship, and in ordinary conversations with staff who know each student well enough to notice when something is worrying them.
Worried about a child right now?
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. If you are worried about online sexual abuse, or about how someone has been communicating with a child online, report it to CEOP.
For parents and carers
If you are not sure where to start, the NSPCC pages are the most practical.
- NSPCC: keeping children safe online
- Talking to your child about online safety — how to start the conversation without it becoming an argument
- Setting up parental controls
- Net Aware — plain guides to the apps, games and platforms young people actually use
- Thinkuknow — the National Crime Agency’s online safety programme, with separate sections by age
- North Lincolnshire CMARS online safety guide (PDF)
Free training
National Online Safety runs a free course for parents and carers of 14 to 18 year olds. It takes about an hour and is worth it if the apps your child uses have moved on faster than you have.
For young people
Childline is free, confidential and available at any hour, online or on 0800 1111. You do not have to have a big problem to contact them.
Childline’s #ListenToYourSelfie films are short and worth watching together with your child rather than sending them the link.
Recognising exploitation
Online grooming and exploitation rarely look obvious from the outside. The NSPCC sets out the signs to look for via their page: Grooming: recognising the signs. If something feels wrong, it is always worth asking rather than waiting to be certain.
Our safeguarding and child protection policy sets out how we handle concerns of this kind.
If your child attends Pledge2Learn and you are worried about their online safety you can chat with us in your usual way or by contacting us on safeguarding@pledge2learn.co.uk.
