Tik Tok Concerns

We have been notified by the Local Authority that there has been some disturbing content on Tik Tok recently.  The minimum age for this app is 13 but I am aware that many of our pupils have elder siblings who may be accessing it.  If your child does come across anything that causes concern, please report this to the police.  

You can find further advice and guidance around security settings for Tik Tok (and other apps) including how to report any disturbing content, by using the following links:

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/tiktok/

https://www.internetmatters.org

Parent Zone: "Tech" Guides for parents....

Parents and carers may find the following link to Parent Zone helpful. They are digital family experts providing support/information to parents, children & schools. It provides good advice on some well known apps that children may be using.
The link is here: https://parentzone.org.uk/parent-info
"From Skype to Snapchat, we examine parental and privacy controls, and how easy it is for kids to access the services."

Parent and pupil e-safety workshop - you said, we did!

Bitterne Manor Primary hosted another very successful e-safety workshop; this time for parents and pupils to attend together, following your suggestions from the last session.

We ran through scenarios that children may face when going online or using mobile devices; including unwanted or unkind online messages; what to do when someone shares a photo without your permission and how to avoid ads and pop-ups within apps.

Parents and children acted out what would happen in different situations, then we shared suggestions and advice on how to handle that situation. It is hoped that once these subjects and situations have been talked about in a role play environment, it will be easier to discuss if the situation were to become real.

Here are some of the comments from the workshop:

What did you find useful?
"Children listening to the advice so it could back up what we’ve learned before"
"All of it! Really useful to have children with us in discussions"
"Everything; hand outs were great."
"The bit about WhatsApp (age limit) and children using certain apps for bullying"
"Starting conversations about online safety, “Go home” concept (Internet like a city), recommended apps"

What you said you wanted next time:
"More scenarios to go through with children"
"How to help children use the internet critically; like how to verify sources of information on the internet, how to spot fake news, virus alerts, etc."

There will be a date for the next workshop coming soon, watch this space. In the mean time, please do not hesitate to ask any questions; ask for Phil Wickins, the E-Safety Coordinator.

Helpful websites:

Think U Know - A website for parents, carers, teachers and children all about online safety, run by the National Crime Agency. Some great educational games and clips for kids!

Keeping our young people safe online - You said, We did!

Important: Change of date, now on Wednesday 7th March 2018

We held a very successful e-safety parent’s workshop on Wednesday morning and evening, where we explored child protection laws, helpful websites and ways to keep an open dialogue with your child about their online activity. The feedback you gave us was overwhelmingly positive; almost all of you who attended requested more sessions like this - with the majority wanting a session you could attend with your children.

In the light of this, we have decided to run at least one session each term where we can join together to discuss new situations and issues, learn how to use parental restrictions on devices and software and have meaningful discussions with our children. Therefore, the next workshop will be a join parent-child session (suggested by you!), where we will be encouraging discussion and learning through fun activities and websites, exploring together scenarios and situations that you and your child may find yourselves in.

There will be a KS1 (YR - Y2) session from 3:30pm until 4pm, followed by a KS2 (Y3 - Y6) session form 4 - 4:30pm on Wedensday 7th March 2018. There will be a letter coming out to you with a reply slip so we can get an idea about numbers. This session is for you and your child/children to attend together.

Need a reminder? Add this to your google calendar:
E-Safety Parent and Child Workshop, 3.30pm, Wednesday 7th March 2018

Here are some of your comments from Wednesday’s workshop:

What did you find useful?
“All of the session – particularly being informed about the resources we can use to find out more & educate ourselves & the children. Opportunity to ask questions was great.”
“All of it! Very useful to learn about a ‘safe’ search engine for kids and the illustration of the safe and unhelpful places in a city was also helpful.”
Other comments:
“Really useful – Main danger is peer pressure of not being able to contact friends if you don’t have app, so the wider we can spread the word, the better”
“Great that this is being offered to parents and definitely an area of concern that I don’t currently feel equipped for.”

Helpful websites we explored in the workshop:

Think U Know - A website for parents, carers, teachers and children all about online safety, run by the National Crime Agency. Some great educational games and clips for kids!

Kidrex.org - A customised Google search engine that returns child-freindly results and eliminates the image search.

Please make sure you save the date!