Online Safety
We take E-Safety very seriously at Riverside.
Below you will find lots of information about how to keep your child safe whilst they are online.
We have recently signed up to the National Online Safety Platform which enables staff to access a wide range of training packages and webinars. Alongside this, we can also download guides for parents/carers and lesson plans on Online Safety.
If you have any questions regarding your child's E-Safety at Riverside please contact the school office.
DfE Online Safety
Due to the Covid pandemic and the necessary measures put in place, almost all of us are likely to be spending more time online, including children and parents/carers. This guidance contains resources for parents and carers to help keep their children safe online.
E-Safety - Useful Links
Please remember to support your children when they are online. The internet is a great resource but users, especially children, must be aware that there are dangers associated with it. There are some great resources online to educate both parents and children.
Family Safety
It is important to keep children safe on the internet, whether it is on a computer, tablet, smartphone or a games console. The following information will make you aware of services that are available to you. Most are free but some charge you for their service. The latter usually comes with extra levels of security or data logging. Norton Family, McAfee Family Protection, AV Family Safety and Net Nanny are some examples such software.
Internet Service Providers
The majority of Internet service providers (ISPs) offer family safety features for free. Giving you the ability to block inappropriate websites on all devices on your network at home. You can sometimes configure what time of day the website is blocked.
Links to parental safety information from the four biggest broadband providers are below.
You can also help your child stay safe online by setting some restrictions on the devices that they use.
Most devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, phones, games consoles have some element of family safety, helping you to restrict the type of content available to your child.
Tablets/Phones
There are many safety restrictions available to parents on the iPad/iPhone/iPod. Again, you can allow/block certain websites, restrict apps, prevent apps from being downloaded, prevent location tracking.
Phones and tablets, such as iPhones and iPads, also usually come with built-in safety features to block websites, prevent app downloads, restrict certain apps from launching and prevent location tracking.
To enable parental controls for most Android phones and tablets you will need to check the details with the manufacturer of the device. Some Android devices have very limited family safety settings and therefore would require a third party app to be installed to offer the additional safety. Some apps like Mobile Guardian offer extra parental controls such as the ability to view websites that your child is visiting. There is often an extra cost for 3rd party apps like this, Mobile Guardian for example currently costs £2.45 per month.
Windows Phone offers a service called Kids Corner which allows you to select the apps that your child can or cannot use.
Xbox & Playstation
Xbox and Playstation also allow you filter appropriate content for your child. You can block websites, inappropriate games, films and strangers from contacting your child.
Computers & Laptops
For Windows based computers and laptops, Microsoft has created Family Safety that allows you to restrict websites, filter games/applications, prevent online purchasing and even limit the number of hours your child is allowed to use the device for.
Apple also offer parental controls for their Mac computers with similar features.
Video Tutorials
Please see below some documents that you may find useful if you are unsure of any aspect of online safety.