Internet safety
Children's safety when using the internet is a sensitive issue and we have put together the following information to encourage safe behaviour online.
Whilst we want young people to enjoy the benefits of using the internet, they should be made aware they may find hazards and should know how to deal with them.
Superhighway Safety
Superhighway Safety is the Department for Education and Skills internet safety advice site for schools and UK Online centres.
Be Safe Online
Be Safe Online is a website that provides internet safety advice for parents, teachers and other adults with responsibility for children. It was created as part of the SUSI project (2002), an awareness-raising project supported by the European Union Safer Internet Action Plan.
Internet Proficiency scheme
One new tool is the Internet Proficiency scheme for primary pupils aged 8-11 years. This scheme offers materials for teachers to use in the classroom and a fun, interactive, environment named CyberCafe where children can learn about the safe use of e-mail, text messages, search engines and chatrooms.
ChatDanger
Chat continues to be the internet application that most concerns parents, as it involves the possibility that young people may come into contact online with dangerous adults. The ChatDanger website offers good advice about how to keep safe in chatrooms. Most schools aim to prohibit access to chatrooms by chidren using school computers.
Be safe online: Filtering software
Filtering software is available to control and limit access of users to harmful material online, especially on the world wide web. It cannot guarantee that users will not reach objectionable pages, such as pornography or hate material, so it forms only part of a solution. It is purchased and used in most schools and some libraries, cybercafes and community internet centres.