At Gaddesden Row JMI School, we understand the responsibility to educate our pupils on eSafety issues; teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of the classroom.

At Gaddesden Row JMI School, we are fully committed to the safeguarding of pupils and take e-Safety very seriously. With the support of parents, we pro-actively teach our pupils how to keep themselves safe online.

The school promotes safe and responsible use of ICT. All staff, governors, children, volunteers and visitors using either school or personal IT equipment on the premises must adhere to the school’s  Acceptable Use Policy. We provide a safe and secure online environment accessing filtered internet content through the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning. The children are taught about the potential e-safety risks and etiquette associated with the use of ICT and supportive staff help children to feel safe and able to report e-safety worries or incidents they may have in line with the school’s e-safety policy.

Our Online Safety policy is reviewed annually or earlier in light of new technologies or e-safety issues which come to our attention.

We provide opportunities for parents and carers to receive up to date e-safety information, to enable them to support their children in developing good e-safety behaviour.

We advise parents to regularly look at the Herts for Learning ‘Online Safety Advice for Parents’ which has valuable, up to date information: 

https://thegrid.org.uk/safeguarding-and-child-protection/online-safety/online-safety-advice-to-parents-and-carers

Further information about e-safety can be accessed via these documents and external links:

www.childnet-int.org – A non-profit making organisation working directly with children, parents and teachers to address the issues of online child protection and children’s safe and positive use of the internet.

Childnet International KnowITAll resources – www.childnet-int.org/kia

www.thinkuknow.co.uk – The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) educational website designed and written specifically for children, young people, teachers, parents and carers.

www.getsafeonline.org  A beginners guide to using the Internet safety, including a quiz and some video tutorials about how to ‘stay safe’ on-line.

www.kidsmart.org.uk – Kidsmart is an award winning internet safety website for parents and schools.  Developed by Childnet International it has excellent information on many of the technologies used by children, with guidance on how to ‘stay safe’ online.

www.bullying.co.uk – One in five young people have experienced bullying by text message or via email. This web site gives advice for children and parents on bullying.

www.childnet.com/young-people/primary – Information about the potential dangers with interactive services online like chat, instant messaging, online games, email and mobiles.  It provides information, advice, true stories and games. The resource page also contains a number of links to other useful websites.