Online Safety

With an ever changing world where nearly all children aged 3-17 went on line in 2024 (96%) and by the age of 11 nine in ten (91%) children aged 3-17 own their own mobile phone,  we at Sir John Offley CE (VC) Primary School feel very strongly about providing up to date information to safeguard your child not just inside school, but outside too.

Research shows:
There has been an increase in 3-5-year-olds using social media platforms:  Over the past few years, there has been an increase in parents of 3-5-year-olds who say their child uses social media apps or sites. In 2021 and 2022 about a quarter used them, rising to three in ten (29%) in 2023, and almost four in ten (37%) this year. Over a third (36%) of parents of 35s whose child uses social media use it on their child’s behalf, and over four in ten (42%) say they use these sites or apps together with their child. However, two in ten (19%) of these parents indicate that their child uses these apps independently. 

More children are watching livestreamed videos, a growing trend over the past three years: This year, two-thirds (66%) of 3-17s watch livestreamed videos, up from 63% in 2023 and 58% in 2022. The increase this year has been driven by 8-12-year-olds. 

Of the 8 in 10 (79%) of 3-17s who have their own profile on a social media, messaging, VSP or livestreaming site, 16% include a photo of themselves which anyone can see

16% of 3-17s livestream their own videos

The majority of children aged 3-17 who game online do so with either someone they know, or have met outside the game (72%) and/or by themselves (67%). However, three in ten (31%) of this group play with or against someone they don’t personally know.

(Statistics taken from Ofcom—Children’s and parents: media use and attitudes report 2025)

Useful weblinks:

The link below will take your child directly to the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) website for children, which gives up to date information and a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Other useful links:

https://www.kidsmart.org.uk/

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/safe-internet-explorers/

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/#

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/

https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/momo-online-safety-guide-for-parents/

Acceptable User Policy.

At Sir John Offley, we see the importance in each child being a responsible user and staying safe whilst using the internet and other digital technologies for education use whilst in school.  As a school, we ensure that pupils have good access to digital technologies to enhance their learning.  Each child is required to read and sign the an Acceptable Use Policy whilst at our school.  Copies of these policies can be found on our School/Policies page.