Technology is a key aspect of learning at Oakridge Schools Federation, from using iPads to Chromebooks and video recording equipment.  We take every step to ensure the children understand their responsibilities in using technology and are aware of the potential dangers and the steps they should take to keep themselves safe online.

We have hosted online safety days led by a specialist ICT consultant, culminating in a presentation to parents to support them with their roles and responsibilities in helping protect their children online.  We also distribute issues of Digital Parenting, which gives practical help, guidance and links to further advice.  We work with parents to highlight issues relating to their children’s use of mobile phones, tablets and age appropriateness of console games.    

Social Media Age Restrictions

It’s important to remember that the legal age to have an account on most social media – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat – is 13 years old.  See the infographic below for guidance on the age restrictions on some social media platforms.  Please note this guidance can and does change regularly. 

Online Safety

Online safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of online safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media safely and securely.

At Home

As a parent, you’ll know how important the internet is to children – they use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves.  It’s a highly creative place with amazing opportunities.  However, the technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting, and you might worry about the risks your child can face online – such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content. 

You can download a simple checklist at the bottom of this page that may help you start to protect your children online and decrease the risks they face.  Alternatively, you can engage with your children regarding their internet use while at home.  Here are some conversation-starter ideas from Childnet

• Ask your children about the sites they like visiting and what they enjoy doing online.

• Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?

• Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.

• Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online, or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.

• Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online?

At School

As part of your child’s curriculum and the development of computer skills, we provide access to the internet only in teacher-supervised lessons. We strongly believe that using the web and email is hugely worthwhile and an essential tool for children growing up in the modern world. But because there are always concerns about children accessing undesirable materials, we have taken positive steps to deal with this risk in school. Our school internet access provider operates a filtering system restricting access to inappropriate materials. We also discuss with the children what they should do if they see anything that concerns them. 

Should you wish to see our policies for internet use and online safety, please click here to be taken to our policy page. 

Parent Resources

To try and help parents with the fast-moving and changing world of the internet and social media, we’ve suggested a few internet sites at the bottom of this page, which are fantastic resources. They contain information on different types of social media and how to help keep children safe.

Privacy settings are important to keeping our young children safe; you can find more information about them here. 

For information on how to set up parental controls on devices, the Internet Matters website has detailed instructions for all devices. You can find more information here and then scroll to the bottom of the new page. 

Here are some helpful documents for you to download and keep.

Jessie and Friends

To see the latest information for parents on how to keep their 4-7 year-olds safe online, please click here.

Smartphone Safe

If you would like to know more information on how to keep your child safe when they are using a smartphone, here is a very useful and informative link here.

Internet Safety Resources

Below is a list of internet safety resources that you may find useful. 

Website	Comments
	There is a great new online safety tool designed for parents launched by the Department for Education called Parent Info.  It has advice on everything from keeping children safe from online trolls to WhatsApp – a guide for parents.
	Childnet is a great website resource for parents and children on online safety.  Click here to watch an interactive video on keeping your child safer online.
	Think U Know has a great section for parents, covering topics such as gaming and talking to strangers.  You can also search by topic or age range to find relevant information for your family.  You can find the site here.
	Internet Matters is another great site to use – it has advice on cyberbullying, how to talk to your children about internet safety and quick guides to different types of social media such as Instagram and Snapchat.  You can visit their pages here: Internet Matters
	You can download the DofE advice for parents on cyberbullying.