Dear Parents/Carers,

At this time of year we always have online safety conversations with our children in school.  We would also normally invite the Safer School Team from Dorset Police  in to talk to some classes and parents.  Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, they aren’t able to come into school this year.  We will continue to educate the children about keeping safe online, but you may be interested in this advice from the Dorset Safer Schools Team on things you can do at home to ensure your child is staying safe whilst using a device or playing online games.

The Safer Schools Team have a new portal section: https://www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/young-people/professionals/  which includes some useful information for parents, young people and professionals. 

Roblox/Fortnite Information

• https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/esafety-news/parents-guide-to-roblox-and-how-your-kids-can-play-it-safely/
• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-roblox-0
• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-fortnite

Information for parents

• Issue 5 pages 39-46 or Issue 6 pages 41-45 of the Digital parenting magazine https://www.flipsnack.com/FA7569CC5A8/digital-parenting-by-vodafone-2021-edition.html  – offer some useful advice for parents around how to put the different levels of security on broadbands, devices and apps. However, all the magazines provide really useful information
• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/ - Home activity packs that parents can do at home 
• https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/ - has a drop down menu for various smartphones/devices, entertainment and search engines, broadband and mobile networks, social media and gaming consoles so parents can find the specific device/app and be taken to a parental control guide
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/ - Has some guidance but also has the details for the 02 NSPCC Advice line where experts can help put settings into place or discuss other concerns
• https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/ has information on how to block apps particularly on the app store/google play store. Parents can set a PIN or facial/fingerprint verification before apps are downloaded as well
• https://www.net-aware.org.uk/ - If parents are not sure around app ratings then they can visit this site and it will give them useful information
• https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/have-a-conversation- Has useful guidance and information for parents around conversation starters they can have with their children. There is also a form that can be created at home around family agreements regarding online safety, setting boundaries/sanctions etc.

They strongly advise that Parents/Carers should be regularly monitoring what their children are viewing/engaging with online.