Safeguarding Children Online

At Fishburn Primary School, keeping children safe online is an essential part of our safeguarding responsibility.

Technology provides children with valuable opportunities to learn, communicate, create and explore. However, we recognise that children can also be exposed to inappropriate or harmful content, behaviour and contact online.

Online safety is therefore embedded within our safeguarding practice, curriculum and wider school culture.

Our Approach to Online Safety

We aim to ensure that children develop the knowledge, understanding and confidence to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.

At Fishburn, we:

teach online safety through Computing, PSHE/Relationships Education and the wider curriculum;
revisit online safety regularly rather than teaching it only as a standalone topic;
teach children how to recognise risks and seek help from a trusted adult;
teach children about respectful and responsible online behaviour;
use appropriate filtering and monitoring systems on school networks and devices;
respond to online safeguarding concerns through our established safeguarding procedures;
provide staff with appropriate safeguarding and online safety training;
work with parents and carers to help children use technology safely outside school; and
review our provision in response to emerging technology and new safeguarding risks.

Children are encouraged to tell a trusted adult whenever something they see, hear or experience online makes them feel worried, uncomfortable or unsafe.

Understanding Online Risks

Keeping Children Safe in Education identifies four broad areas of online safety risk:

Content

Children may be exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful content.

This could include pornography, racism, misogyny, self-harm or suicide content, misinformation and disinformation, extremist material or other content which is not appropriate for their age.

Contact

Children may experience harmful interaction with other people online.

This can include peer pressure, harassment, adults posing as children, grooming or exploitation.

Conduct

A child's own online behaviour may place themselves or others at risk.

This can include online bullying, sharing personal information, inappropriate comments or the creation, requesting or sharing of nude or semi-nude images.

Commerce

Children may encounter risks associated with advertising and financial activity online.

These can include scams, phishing, inappropriate advertising, in-app purchases and other financial risks.

Teaching Online Safety

Online safety forms part of our Computing and PSHE/Relationships Education curriculum and is reinforced across school life.

Teaching is appropriate to children's age and stage of development and helps pupils understand areas including:

keeping personal information private;
passwords and account security;
respectful online communication;
online friendships and relationships;
recognising inappropriate or harmful content;
online bullying;
misinformation and disinformation;
managing screen time and healthy use of technology;
gaming and social media;
privacy and digital footprints;
recognising when someone online may not be who they claim to be;
how and when to report concerns; and
where to seek help.

We want children to develop the critical thinking skills needed to make informed decisions online rather than relying solely on technological restrictions to keep them safe.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is increasingly present in the technology children encounter.

We recognise that AI can provide educational opportunities but can also create safeguarding risks. These may include inaccurate or inappropriate information, AI-generated images or videos, impersonation, manipulation of images and exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate material.

Where AI tools are used within school, their use is appropriately supervised and considered alongside safeguarding, filtering and monitoring, data protection and curriculum requirements.

Children are supported to understand that AI-generated information and images may not always be accurate or genuine and should be approached critically.

Filtering and Monitoring

Fishburn Primary School uses appropriate filtering and monitoring arrangements to help protect pupils when using school technology.

Filtering helps prevent access to illegal, inappropriate and potentially harmful online content.

Monitoring helps the school identify concerning activity so that appropriate safeguarding action can be taken.

No technological system can remove every online risk. Filtering and monitoring therefore work alongside effective supervision, safeguarding procedures and education.

Our filtering and monitoring arrangements are reviewed in accordance with Department for Education expectations and take account of the age, needs and safeguarding profile of our pupils.

Children with SEND

We recognise that some children with SEND may experience additional online vulnerabilities.

Online safety teaching is therefore adapted where appropriate so that pupils can understand risks, recognise unsafe situations and know how to seek help.

Staff consider children's individual communication, cognitive and social needs when teaching online safety and responding to concerns.

Working with Parents and Carers

Keeping children safe online works best when school and families work together.

We encourage parents and carers to:

talk regularly with their child about what they do online;
take an interest in the games, apps and websites their child uses;
use age-appropriate parental controls and privacy settings;
check age restrictions for games, apps and social-media platforms;
encourage children to speak openly about anything that worries them online;
help children understand that people online may not always be who they claim to be; and
model positive and balanced use of technology.

We regularly share online safety information and guidance with families through our school communication channels.

Reporting an Online Safety Concern

If you are concerned about something a child has experienced online, please contact Fishburn Primary School and ask to speak to a member of our safeguarding team.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mr Richard Parkin – Head of School

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Charlotte Sinclair – Assistant Headteacher / Early Years Lead

School telephone: 01740 620162
School email: fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk

Online safeguarding concerns are treated in the same way as other safeguarding concerns and will be responded to in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.

Where there is concern about online sexual abuse or exploitation, this can also be reported to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Useful Support for Families

Parents and carers can find further advice and support from:

Internet Matters – practical guidance, parental controls and age-specific online safety advice;
UK Safer Internet Centre – online safety information and resources;
Childnet – online safety resources for children and families;
CEOP Education – resources supporting children, families and professionals; and
Childline – confidential support for children and young people on 0800 1111.

Our approach to online safety is informed by Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, Department for Education filtering and monitoring standards and national guidance on teaching online safety.