Florence Melly Community Primary School
IMPORTANT UPDATE – Our website is undergoing significant improvements. We aim for this to be complete before the end of this half-term. If there is something specific you are looking for, but cannot find it, please contact the school office. Thank you for your patience!

Online Safety

Welcome to our new Online Safety page. This page is currently being developed. For further information, please see Mr Leach our Designated Safeguarding Lead for more details.

Our New Online Safety Strategy

Ownership, staff development, reporting routes, policy, secure infrastructure and curriculum…these are just a few elements of the new online safety strategy at Florence Melly Community Primary School. We are currently reviewing our practice using the 360 degree safe online safety self-review tool.

Online Safety Group

Our school is currently in the process of establishing an Online Safety Group. If you would like to get involved, please contact Mr Leach our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Policies

Our school is in the process of updating its online safety policy and guidance for users on the acceptable use of technology is being developed. Please check soon for further updates.

We are Delighted to Introduce…Whisper

Dear Parent/Carer

The safety and well-being of our pupils is something that our school strives hard to ensure and we continue to work hard to provide ways to help you tell us if you or your children have any problems or worries which the School needs to know about such as bullying. Reporting issues is a very effective way to enable us to deal with risks before they escalate into harm, and we already have several ways in which you can report to our school.  That goes a long way in helping us create the safe and reliable environment for your children that you expect our school to be.

We understand too that sometimes, coming into school to tell us about these issues can not always be an easy thing to do.Time? Arranging an appointment? Speaking with staff? Sometimes it can be a subject that you need to bring to our attention without wanting to identify yourself, but that you feel we need to know, particularly if it involves children’s safety. That’s why we are launching Whisper on our school website, an anonymous reporting service for pupils, families and local community that allows you to send a message or text to a confidential school email account where staff experienced in responding to issues will receive it.

How does it work?

Clicking on the Whisper button on our site will take you to an online form where you can leave your message. You can choose to send it anonymously or, if you want us to get back to you, you can leave your contact details. Whisper does not collect any information to identify a sender unless they choose to leave it. You can also send an anonymous text by following the SMS instructions on our school website.

Why do we think this is important?

For a variety of reasons, such as being classed as a “grass”, or mistrust of how their concerns will be handled, young people often find it very difficult to report issues at school. Offering an anonymous route may empower them to raise concerns they may not have felt able to raise before. We know that reporting can raise awareness of an issue across the school and things can change because of that, through discussion and education. Reporting someone who is bullying, for example, can very often focus attention on that person and is sometimes enough to change their behaviour. Whilst your report may not always get the solution you want to see, reporting bad behaviours can often stop them from happening to others. If people know their unacceptable behaviour will be reported they are less likely to do it and this can have a positive effect across the whole school.

What happens next?

Over the next few weeks we will be discussing Whisper with the children as part of our wider safeguarding education programme: how, why and when to use it. How it can provide a useful route for them to help safeguard themselves, their friends or the wider school community. If you have any questions about the service then please contact Mr Leach our Designated Safeguarding Lead. We thank you for your continued support and comments. With that support, we are confident we can build a positive school community in which you, and your family play such an important and valuable role.

Report an Issue using Whisper!

Click the link below which will take you to the SWGfL Whisper reporting window. The system does not collect any online information from you. You can choose to leave your name and contact details only if you want to.

Blue Example Button

You can also anonymously report issues to us via SMS by texting: FLO + YOUR CONCERN to 07860021584

Additional Advice on Reporting Issues Online

If you’re worried about anything you or your child come across online, you should report it immediately to the relevant organisation and to the site where you or your child saw it. Please visit the Internet Matters website: https://www.internetmatters.org/report-issue/ which provides a raft of information designed to help you report problems, gain advice or connect with other parents via forums.

What issues could be affecting your children?

Get to grips with what they may come across on the internet and how to get help if you need it. Find out what to do if you’re worried about anything you or your child has seen online.

For advice on:

ONLINE GAMING, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/online-gaming/ 

INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/inappropriate-content/ 

CYBERBULLYING, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/cyberbullying/ 

ONLINE GROOMING, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/online-grooming/ 

SEXTING, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/sexting/ 

ONLINE REPUTATION, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/online-reputation/ 

SELF HARM, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/self-harm/ 

ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/online-pornography/

RADICALISATION, pleas visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/radicalisation/

Online Safety Resources & Leaflets

Children use the internet in different ways depending on their age and so we’ve developed checklists for parents that give you top tips on how to help them stay safe.

Online Safety Guide for

Parents/Carers

Online Safety Guide

0-5 year olds

Online Safety Guide

6-10 year olds

Online Safety Guide

11-13 year olds

Other Checklists and Guides

These are a range of guides offering general information on how to keep children safe in their digital world. They include an online safety guide and our top internet manners.

Online

Gaming Tips

Managing Screen

Time Tips

Cyberbullying Advice

for Parents

Parents Guide to

Vlogging

       
   
Childnet Information and Online Resources Supporting Young People Online     

NSPCC Share Aware Initiative

It can be hard to keep track of what your child is doing on social networks, apps and games. Or know how to keep them safe.That’s why the NSPCC have teamed up with O2. Together they’re helping parents untangle the web. And teach their children to be Share Aware. Because, just like in real life, kids need your help to stay safe online. You can find the initiative by clicking this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/