Elmvale Primary and Nursery Class

It has come to our attention that some of our children are using Facebook to chat to their friends. Although children are supposed to be over 13 to be able to sign up to Facebook, many children alter their date of birth to allow registration. Please ensure that if your child is using Facebook they only add friends they know IN REAL LIFE and check their privacy status is set to ‘friends only’ for all information and images, they should also make sure that their age is not set to anything older than 16, as child protection features are only available for 13-16 year-olds on Facebook. If children use the internet at home unsupervised it is important they know what to do if they come across any material that worries them or makes them uncomfortable. Whilst every effort is made to make children aware of this in school it is vital that parents and carers also reinforce what is and isn’t appropriate use of the internet at home. Children must feel confident enough to come to adults immediately if they are concerned about anything that occurs online. Please be aware that many children may have Facebook accounts even if they have not told you about it! Although Facebook is filtered inside Elmvale Primary and Nursery Class, it is easily accessible on other computers and even through mobile phones.

 XBOX Live / PS3  Online Important Information
Did you know that if your families games console or PC is used for online gaming your children may have access to chat and speak to people online. Please be aware of this and supervise your child accordingly. Please check your family settings on your console dashboard to check what is allowed and what isn’t. The following websites provide further information:

http://www.theparentsedge.com/online_gaming_dangers.html

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/familysettings/isyourfamilyset/default.htm

 If you are still unsure about how to check/change the security settings of your console, look in your user manual or contact the manufacturer directly.

Cyber Bullying
Cyber bullying is when a person, or a group of people, uses the internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to threaten, tease or abuse someone. If you are receiving threatening or nasty messages through any digital device such as Facebook, texts or email, you should save or print the message and immediately tell an adult. You can also report it through www.thinkuknow.co.ukor http://www.ceop.police.uk/reportabuse/ if you feel too worried to tell a parent or teacher. For more information on Cyber Bullying visit 

www.childline.org.uk/CyberBullying.

 Stay Safe Online
Children should remember the following tips to stay safe online:

be S.M.A.R.T

• Safe: Always keep your name, address, mobile phone number and password private.
• Meeting up with a web pal can be dangerous. If you must go, make sure you take and adult with you.
• Accepting emails or opening files from people your don’t know can get you into trouble. They may contain nasty messages or viruses.
• Reliable: Someone online may not be who they say they are.
• Tell your parent or an adult if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.

We advise that computers and laptops are used in a shared room in the house, rather than in bedrooms, where children may give out personal information or access inappropriate websites. There are many different pieces of software that allow parents to lock down or monitor Internet use. One such is 

http://www.kidswatch.com/ which also allows parents to limit Internet use to a set time per day.

For more child friendly information on keeping children safe online browse the links at the bottom of the page. Below is a wallpaper you can download for your computer from the BBC ‘Be Safe’ website.

BBC Stay Safe Wallpaper