At Worksop College & Ranby House, we recognise the huge benefits of technology in supporting young people’s learning. And so, as our society increasingly uses technology to inform almost every part of our lives – it’s our duty to ensure our pupils are tech-savvy and prepared.Director of ICT, Caroline White shares some tips for helping young people navigate the digital world safely.
Keeping young people safe online
At Worksop College & Ranby House, we recognise the huge benefits of technology in supporting young people’s learning. And so, as our society increasingly uses technology to inform almost every part of our lives – it’s our duty to ensure our pupils are tech-savvy and prepared.
Director of ICT, Caroline White shares some tips for helping young people navigate the digital world safely.
Navigate the web together
Ofcom’s latest research shows that among children aged between 5 and 15, 34% now have their own tablet, rather than using devices belonging to their parents or school, up from a fifth (19%) in 2013. Happily, research also shows that 9 in 10 parents recognise the risks and are doing something to help children stay safe, online. Understand your child’s internet usage by using technology, together. Get to know the game they are playing and importantly who they are playing with! Find out about the main settings and safety features and ensure your child understands the sites they should and shouldn’t access - and why.
Keep an eye out
If your child is under 12, we recommend you monitor their use of the internet. Keep computers and tablets in a busy part of the house such as the living room or kitchen. This makes it easier for you to answer any questions about something they might have seen or stumbled across, as well as monitor the amount of time they are spending online
Limit technology
A healthy mix of online and offline is important! You can do several things to manage this - such as setting time limits or using time-limiting tools so that devices are ‘locked’ after a certain time period. Setting boundaries around the time spent on devices is important. We’d also suggest removing portable devices from bedrooms at night – or simply changing the WiFi password!
Use parental controls
All the major networks and online services (Netflix, Youtube etc) have some kind of parent controls.
Click HERE to access the Parents’ Guide to Technology on the UK Safer Internet Centre website to find out how to set up controls on a device
Click HERE to find out how you can set up controls on your home internet, phone network and online services such as Netflix.
These controls can’t be relied on to ‘catch’ everything, so it’s important to use these alongside engagement with your child so they know how to stay safe. Review these controls as your child grows and develops. And remember, choose a strong password and don’t share it!
Know where to report
You can report something you are not happy with online directly through website’s help function. However, if you are worried or suspicious about someone contacting your child, you should make a report to the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) unit, by clicking HERE
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