Latest Online Safety In The News New research from Ofcom has found that a fifth of three- and four-year-olds now have a phone of their own
Phone Theft reported Every 6 Minutes in London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65105199
Professionals Online Safety Helpline releases annual report & majority of enquiries concerned social media content that could negatively impact a school’s reputation and professional standing.
Edtech Event of the Week Celebrating Earth Day 2023FREE 30min live assembly for ages 7-11 tomorrow Tuesday 18 April at 9.30am. How tech is protecting the future of our planet and careers in this area!
Edtech Resource of the Week FREE e-book for Primary Digital Adventures of Ava and Chip is available as a free digital download from 17/04 (7:00 GMT) to 19/04 (7:00 GMT)
And Bett Award Winners 2023 here Inc. For free content Oddizzi – 2041 School – Champions of Antarctica
Reminders Brilliant Guide on Apps – based on Needs and Inclusion (for Schools and Families) here And Earth Day Computing & Stem Ideas
Institute of Imagination Imagine Free workshop offers inc. self-regulation and coding using SCRATCH (inc. Creative Box delivered to each school)
Classic Edtech Favourites with Free Elements from US teacher video inc. some classics Kahoot, Book Creator, Padlet, BBC Bitesize SeeSaw
#ChatGPT Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan opened the Bett Show in London and put her Faith in Artificial Intelligence https://chamberuk.com/gillian-keegan-artificial-intelligence/
Free offer Schools Online https://www.schoolonline.co.uk Exam Revision (SATS GCSE) central London donations available inc. 6 weeks (1 hour’/week) revision courses pre May (Contact Katy)
Bett Show 2023 Islington Hosted KidsJudgeBett 8th Year. Winners published soon inc. best free trial at the show: Flare Calmer EarBuds for Kids Supports Sensory Overload, video Contact Katy if interested.
And some excellent Reflection Blogs from teachers Inc. Leo Academy Trust Digital Leader on Global content, Cyber security, teacher workload, inclusion and assisted technology, Ai and Esports.
Excellent roundup on global content at the show A blog on Edtech and Sustainability And on latest products at show inc. Jamworks AI Based on GPT-4 learning model, the assistant is limited to access content from a specific sandboxed database-makes it safer and less risk of plagiarism. Finally the latest VR at the Show
Training Events Summer Term Islington Computing Leaders Inc. new gallery space latest Digital Projection and Audio Technology
Book Now Tuesday 13 June Pm Launch of New Islington Computing SoW & CPD Portal followed by networking & free visit to the New gallery space https://lightroom.uk
with the latest digital projection and audio technology and Hockney Digital Exhibition, linking to Computing Curriculum Digital Art Units. Contact Katy to reserve your spot!
*Class Visits and Free Tickets also available to this exciting Hockney Exhibition.
And Summer events with STEM learning and Teach Computing https://teachcomputing.org/courses (A new look and feel site https://blog.teachcomputing.org/what-next )
Online Safety and Computing SLA April 2023-24 A remodelled SLA with VFM and Quality First Curriculum and Support at the Heart. 90% Islington Primary and SEND schools,
Plus Haringey and Hackney schools too!
Ideas for Online Safety Blurb for School Newsletter or Letter for Families inc. Y6 Classes
There is currently an Online Harms bill going through parliament, with urgent calls for the internet to be made safer for children – the NSPCC calls the internet the Wild West
Despite age ratings of13+ 16+ Online and social Media platforms inc. YouTube, WhatsApp and TikTok are the daily diet for many children and the managing screentime on these platforms is challenging because of the addictive design features and extreme & dangerous content easily accessed, inc. violent and scary video content masked by Early Years friendly titles such as Huggy Wuggy.
Children with mobile phones on the streets after schools are also vulnerable because they can be the target of theft by criminal gangs (some schools now have a no cash, no mobile policy)
We urge parents to stay very involved with their child’s life Online, just as we do with young children learning to swim or crossing the road.
And consider carefully the risks if you allow use of social media. The design of many apps 16+ 13+ & phones including dares and challenges can nudge children to share explicit content and to be unkind.
Think of a Digital Diet, “Not No tech but good tech” and social media likened to Junk food.
A new and highly acclaimed 15 minute short drama starring Jodie Whittaker (Dr Who), Paul Ready (Motherland) looks at online harm, regulation and responsibility.
https://www.ft.com/video/ea39f3a9-8993-477d-a763-317ba51c2e75 or German Advert Where’s Klaus (over 10 years old now but still hard hitting and relevant)
- Along with parental controls, parents and carers should stay actively involved in their child’s online world
- Helping choose safe child age apps and sites, having regular conversations and setting firm boundaries.
- Common boundaries used by families for both children and adults include:
- Screen free mealtimes and bedtimes (other times inc. “before school”)
- No tech in bedrooms and books at bedtime
- Gaming only at weekends and educational games in the week
- Choosing quality programmes and films to watch together such as CbbC and enjoying TV on a large TV screen rather than phone or iPad.
- Parents and carers actively involved in choosing apps and online games, with regular monitoring of devices and parental controls.
Parental control and monitoring tools including Google Family Link, Apple ScreenTime and Microsoft Family Safety https://parentsafe.lgfl.net And https://www.internetmatters.org
Free phone helpline for families 7-9pm school nights https://thesleepcharity.org.uk
And further info on Risks of Content Contact Conduct are described in the presentation here https://www.internetmatters.org/schools-esafety/parent-online-support-pack-teachers
Schools safeguarding policies and education follow DFE guidance Keeping Children safe In Education and Online Safety Risks are categorised under Content Contact Conduct.
The school has an open door policy on any concerns or support needed around online safety.
** KCSIE emphasises Online Safety is firmly embedded in role of DSL – Resource Reminder for DSL: Updated Template policy examples are available https://national.lgfl.net/digisafe
inc. Online Safety Audit KCSIE asks schools to carry out an annual Online Safety Audit
**Cyber-Security reminder of the excellent resources developed by The Key with important webinar for governors last Autumn term
Congratulation on Safer Internet Day 2023 and all the schools taking Part in Open Classroom
100s of parents and carers joined Open Classroom Events across Islington Primary Schools during Sprint 1 to celebrate Safer Internet Day Tuesday 7 February. The “bring your family to school” approach for Online safety was spearheaded by Drayton Park and Montem Primary in 2022, with the idea families join Digital Literacy and Online safety lessons in their child’s class, along with exhibitions of learning with technology.
There have been huge turnouts of families with numbers averaging 40-50 parents/carers per school, including events at Pooles Park, St Marys, Vittoria, Copenhagen, Thornhill and Blessed Sacrament.
Importantly, before joining the classrooms, the DSL spoke to families about
For further information on Safer Internet Day https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2023
And resources for families https://www.internetmatters.org and https://parentsafe.lgfl.net/ and https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety
Katy Potts
Computing and Online Safety Schools Service
Islington Council Laycock PDC
Highbury Station Road
Islington, N1 1TH
mobile: 07932767772
https://twitter.com/katypotts #IslingtonSchools
My working day may be different to yours and no immediate response is expected. Thanks
Islington Computing 