Free Updated Guide To Internet Safety Published By North Walsham High School

Posted on: 28th November 2016

North Walsham High School has relaunched its acclaimed Internet Safety Guide – an updated version of the document which has been used by schools across the county and further afield to help parents ensure their children stay safe online.

First published in 2013, the 24 page guide contains a range of information and advice from various sources, including The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), Childline and the NSPCC, as well as members of the school’s own IT team. The guide is available to download free on the school’s website.

Among the Guide’s contents are:

A useful checklist for parents and carers to keep their child safe online

A list of 60 texting slang terms used by teens, and what they mean

How to tackle cyber-bullying, and where to turn to for help if this happens

Information about free internet filtering and parental control software

Advice about avoiding online grooming

A comprehensive guide to Facebook privacy settings

A guide to how various technologies can be used

How to report abuse to service providers

Launching the updated Guide were PCSO James Harding, who provides advice sessions for all students at the school about internet safety, and school network manager Gary O’Connor, who said, “Technology is changing all the time, and it can be difficult for parents to keep up with that – it’s easy to feel that children are always one step ahead. But parents can and must take responsibility for keeping their children safe online, because children themselves are not always aware of the dangers.

“Although 13 is the minimum age to use Facebook, research shows that half of all nine to 12 year-olds have Facebook accounts. It is really important to ensure that privacy settings are locked down, and that young people understand the consequences of posting material online

“There are simple things that parents can do to minimise the risks, such as knowing their children’s passwords, being friends with their children on Facebook, and banning mobile phones and other devices from their bedrooms. The most important thing is to sit down and talk with young people about the dangers – you may be surprised at how much they open up in return if you do this.”

The Internet Safety Guide is part of ongoing activity at the school to educate young people and their parents about the potential dangers lurking on the internet, and how to minimise the risk of encountering them. All students receive regular sessions on staying safe online, from teachers, school technical staff and from the police.

The North Walsham High School Internet Safety Guide is available to download free of charge on our E-Safety page.