The government has advised that people cannot get together in large groups – no parties, football matches or cinema trips – and it will mean children will be sitting at home alone communicating a lot more online than ever before.  In fact, we will be encouraging them to use technology more, with our teachers busy planning online lessons as we speak. Increased time on-line could increase the risks for your child to access harmful information, be groomed by someone or get involved in online bullying. 

I have therefore taken the opportunity to send to your child reminders and support in keeping themselves safe on-line.

Please double check and an keep an eye on your internet filters at home to ensure that they are secure and will block inappropriate websites.  Please talk to your children about what they are looking at or who they are talking to, especially as isolation isn’t good for anyone’s mental health. 

In the event of any on-line bullying involving students at Preston Manor, we ask parents/carers to contact their child’s DSD via email and we shall ensure the matter is followed up immediately.  Any proven incidents of on-line bullying will result in follow-up with the perpetrator on our return to school.

There are a number of on-line resources and links below which you may find informative and useful in supporting your child’s safety on-line:

• Childline https://www.childline.org.uk/
• NSPCC  https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/partners/nspcc-o2-online-safety-partnership/
• ThinkUKnow  https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
• CEOP https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
• Childnet International  https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers