Internet Safety

A Guide to Online Safety and Gaming

As a new generation of young people arrive onto using multiplayer games and the internet in general this new year, it is more important than ever to make your chidlren aware of how to stay safe online. The SWGfL has published a pamphlet on how to best keep safe whilst using online software and games. With advice on reporting and blocking, online socialisation and the considerations on online gaming, the pamphlet can be a useful resource for anyone looking into this topic. You can find a link to the resource below: 

https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/online-safety-and-gaming.pdf

 

 

Understanding the Playground - Fortnite

Since its release 2017, the battle-royale simulator – Fortnite, has become ubiquitous in children's lives throughout the world. The game, which features cartoonish renderings of characters, bright colours and non-visceral consequence free violence, has had a mass appeal to children. As a result, more children than ever are exposed to multi-player chatting with strangers, and financial exploitation via the game’s spend-to-gain-advantage operating style. Allowing children to use real world money to gain perks and costumes. From criminal blackmailing, to the coercion of nude exchanges by online ‘friends’ posing as children, the danger this game presents from a safeguarding perspective is clear. As an added complication, the verbiage surrounding the game used by pupils is near-incomprehensible, frustrating adepts to secure their safety. Fortunately to allow for greater comprehension of reports to staff involving the game, Internetmatters.org has published a guide to understanding the game and its terms. You can find the link below: 

https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/guidance/fortnite-battle-royal-parents-guide-keep-kids-safe-gaming

 

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

 

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/young-people/resources-3-11s

 

 

 

Information on key online safety topics including advice and conversation starters for children of different ages.

https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/hot-topics

 

Support and information on what to do if you think your child is at risk online.

https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/need-help

 

Advice for adults and young people on the reporting tools for popular games, apps and social media platforms. 

https://www.childnet.com/resources/how-to-make-a-report

 

Information about helping to make the internet a great and safe place for children:-

Family Agreement

Let's Talk About Life Online

Parents and Carers Resource Sheet

Digital Parenting Magazine

Internet Matters - Parental Controls

Working Together
Achieving Together

Contact us at The Birches Specialist Support Primary School

Main Contact: Adel White
Newholme Road
West Didsbury
Manchester
M20 2XZ
ofsted outstanding 2016/2017 lppa logo Gold School Games Award
national autistic society award 2022