Keeping Your Child Safe Online
Online Safety is a tremendously vital issue both in the nursery and at home. At Happy Children Nursery the safety of our children is our utmost priority and this also applies to computer and online safety. We are committed to making sure that the children are able to interact safely when using technology within the nursery. The children are constantly supervised and the usage of iPads is restricted for educational purposes. Working closely with you is essential in keeping our children safe online.
The following policies are available for you to view in our policies section:
- E-Safety and Networking Policy
- Safeguarding Children (Safer Practice with Technology)
- Digital Images Policy
The guides below are designed to support you in understanding and implementing online safety. We hope you can use them to help protect your child and consider just how appropriate these online experiences are for your family. If you require any further information please contact Saeeda (the designated Safeguarding Officer).
The online risks children might experience:
The advantages of allowing children supervised and time-limited access to the internet far outweigh the disadvantages as long as risks are recognised and well managed. The main online risks might include:
- Exposure to age inappropriate videos, pictures or messages which might upset or frighten them.
- Unintentionally giving permission to share their location or other personal information.
- Imitating harmful or inappropriate behaviour they see online.
- Spending real money via in-app or in-game purchases.
- Online bullying.
- . Being approached by paedophiles
- – Exposure to radicalisation and extremism online.
- The lack of exercise leading to obesity.
- Physical injury (e.g. eye strain and neck and shoulder pain).
Top Tips for keeping your children safe online
- Set clear boundaries such as limits on the amount of time they can spend online.
- Use passwords and use the parental safety features to set time limits and ensure restricted access to age appropriate sites only.
- Check the PEGI ratings and descriptions on apps, games, online TV and films before downloading them.
- Share your home technology rules with those who help look after your child so they also adhere to them. Hence, your child always receives consistent messages.
- REMEMBER that public Wi-Fi (e.g. in cafés) might not have Parental Controls on it.
- SET the device homepage to an appropriate website like Cbeebies.
- Yong children should always be supervised when accessing the internet. Encourage them to use devices in a communal area of home.
- Talk to your child and help them understand what the internet is and how to stay safe online. Please visit the link below and share the information with your child/children.
Smartie the Penguin: www.childnet.com/resources/smartie-the-penguin
Useful websites for further information:
AskAboutGames: Supporting families with video games
Childnet: Keeping under-fives safe online
Internet Matters: Guidance for parents of pre-schoolers
Thinkuknow: Guidance and information for parents/carers from NCA-CEOP. This Website provides advice that enabling parents and young people to make reports of actual/attempted abuse online.