Our Commitment to Keeping Children Safe Online
At Catshill First School and Nursery, we want every child to be safe, happy, and confident when using computers, tablets, or phones. Learning online is fun and full of new ideas, but we also know there are risks. Online safety is a vital part of our safeguarding approach and is embedded across the whole school community — through our curriculum, assemblies, staff training, Acceptable Use Agreements, and robust filtering and monitoring systems.
Our aim is to empower pupils to use technology safely, respectfully, and responsibly — both in school and at home.
We promote Online safety in different ways:
How We Teach Online Safety
At Catshill First School and Nursery, online safety is part of our lessons in Computing and PSHE & RSE. Children learn important skills about being safe, happy, and responsible online.
Lessons cover topics like:
- Keeping personal information private – understanding what to share and what to keep secret.
- Spotting online risks – learning how to stay safe from things that might upset or trick them.
- Being kind online – understanding cyberbullying and how to communicate respectfully.
- Using screens wisely – balancing fun online time with other activities for digital wellbeing.
- Getting help – knowing who to talk to if something online worries them.
These lessons are fun, age-appropriate, and updated regularly to reflect new apps, games, and technology trends.
Throughout the Year – Key Messages
At Catshill First School and Nursery, we don’t just teach online safety in lessons — we talk about it all year long!
- School Assemblies: Fun, interactive gatherings where children learn and share ideas about staying safe online.
- Themed Weeks: Special events like Safer Internet Day help children explore technology in a positive way.
- Sharing and Reflecting: Children get to talk about their online experiences and learn from each other.
- Celebrating Technology: We highlight the fun and creative ways technology can be used safely.
These activities help children remember online safety rules and feel confident using technology responsibly, both at school and at home.
Staff Training
All members of staff receive regular online safety and safeguarding training. This ensures that teachers and support staff:
- Understand current online safety issues
- Recognise the signs of online harm
- Know how to respond to and report online concerns
Our staff are also trained to support children in developing healthy online habits.
Filtering and Monitoring
To protect pupils while using school devices and internet access, we have strong filtering and monitoring systems in place:
- Our filtering system blocks access to inappropriate or harmful content.
- Our monitoring software records and alerts staff to potential risks or unsafe behaviour online.
- All systems are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet the Department for Education’s (DfE) filtering and monitoring standards.
While no system can be completely foolproof, our combination of education, supervision, and technology provides a high level of protection for pupils.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We believe that effective online safety education is a shared responsibility between school and home. We provide parents with:
1. Guidance and resources to support online safety at home
Hit this link to access our recent presentation to the Bromsgrove Middle School Learning Partnership regarding e-safety.
2. Information sessions and newsletters with up-to-date advice
Below are some additional resources to help parents ensure their children can stay safe online. Also, information about setting up an iPhone and Android to stay safe!
3. Links to trusted websites such as Childnet, Thinkuknow, and the UK Safer Internet Centre
barnardos.org.uk/online-safety
bbc.com/ownit/the-basics/8-tips-for-staying-safe-online
If you are worried about your child, or another pupil, you can contact the Safeguarding team using the Worry Box. Together, we can help every child to become a confident, safe, and responsible digital citizen.
What can I do to keep my child safe?
We understand that checking your child’s phone may feel uncomfortable for you and your child and there is a good chance your child may be resistant to this. However, a phone is an extremely powerful device, and it instantly gives children the world at their fingertips. When we give our children a smartphone we need to guide them to use it and complete transparency between parent and child goes hand in hand with being safe online.
Sit down with your child and explain it isn’t about knowing every detail about their life, their friendships or what films they are watching on Netflix but monitoring their usage is about making sure apps are being used safely, sensibly and correctly.
Using Parental Controls is really important, follow this guide: Using and Reviewing Parental Controls
The NSPCC campaign to keep children safe online and the below link will give you more guidance and information on how you can do this.