This is BETT Show week (Inc. Thursday evening Teach Meet detailed below), so a short newsletter! Islington Schools running Kids Judge Bett & hosting international delegations inc. St Joseph’s Danish visit.
Latest Online Safety In The News Will UK’s online safety bill protect children from adult material? And TikTok pushes potentially harmful content to users as often as every 39 seconds
Online Safety Resource of Week A new and highly acclaimed 15 minute short drama starring Jodie Whittaker (Dr Who), Paul Ready (Motherland) looks at online harm, regulation and responsibility.
(See below Easter Holiday special Comms to parents including this video *The last week has seen several very serious online harms cases inc. Y6 groups, at a critical window before SATs
Edtech Resource of the Week Brilliant Guide on Apps – based on Needs and Inclusion (for Schools and Families) here And Earth Day Computing & Stem Ideas
And Reminder Institute of Imagination Imagine Free workshop offers inc. self-regulation and coding using SCRATCH (inc. Creative Box delivered to each school)
Reminder of more Classic Edtech Favourites with Free Elements from US teacher video inc. some classics Kahoot, Book Creator, Padlet, BBC Bitesize SeeSaw
#ChatGPT Did you miss last week’s webinar discussing the effect #ChatGPT will have on writing in schools? Recorded here & Exam boards publish AI guidance for schools
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
Training Events – Bett Show Teach Meet + Summer Term Islington Computing Leaders Inc. new gallery space latest Digital Projection and Audio Technology
The BETT Show is this week, still time to book https://uk.bettshow.com/agenda Including Teach Meet Drinks https://uk.bettshow.com/agenda/teachmeet-part-1-2-networking-drinks
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.
*Class Visits and Free Tickets also available to this exciting Hockney Exhibition – watch this space and contact Katy!
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 Ahead Easter Holidays Following Series Recent Cases 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
Islington Computing 