Online Safety
Online Safety Overview
At Uplands Junior School, we strive to create an engaging curriculum where children thrive and feel empowered to be safe online and be aware of the risks social media may pose. We believe that Online Safety is fundamental and aim to support children to become knowledgeable when being online. Our Online Safety Curriculum enables learners to become confident and responsible citizens. We endeavour to identify approaches to educate and raise awareness of Online Safety throughout our community and respond to online safety concerns as they arise.
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Online Safety Intent
At Uplands, Online Safety is a vital part of our curriculum as we recognise that it is an essential part of safeguarding and we acknowledge our duty to ensure all learners are protected from potential harm online (this refers to Article 19 of Unicef Rights Respecting of the Child act). We identify that the internet and associated devices are an important part of everyday life, which present positive and exciting opportunities, as well as challenges and risks, which can affect our children’s emotional wellbeing. We want our pupils to be ambitious, confident and to equip them with the skills necessary to be safe whilst using technology in our evolving world.
Online Safety Units of work are taught termly and links are made with Computing and PSHE lessons to reinforce pupils’ knowledge and understanding within these areas. Due to its safeguarding importance, it is regularly revisited throughout the year to keep information and guidance up to date. Our engaging Online Safety curriculum empowers our learners to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to use the internet and technology in a safe, considerate and respectful way, and develop their resilience so they can manage and respond to online risks effectively. We want our pupils to develop creativity, resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
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It is our mission that all our pupils have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital citizens who are aware of being safe Online.
Online Safety Implementation
Online Safety Units of work are taught termly. Knowledge map assessment (Project Evolve Toolkit) takes place prior to teaching the unit of work in order to ascertain pupils’ current needs/understanding/knowledge. A Knowledge map will then be completed at the end of the teaching unit in order to assess impact and pupil knowledge. The results of the impact made are available on the Project Evolve Toolkit. There are also opportunities to link Online Safety, Computing and PSHE units of work.
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We also understand that it is imperative to address Online Safety issues as they arise within our school community and involve other agencies if applicable.
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Online Safety Impact
Through our Online Safety curriculum, we aim to equip children with the necessary skills to be safe online. By implementing the intent, children should be aware of:
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acquiring the knowledge and understanding needed to use the internet and technology in a safe, considerate and respectful way
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developing their resilience so they can manage and respond to online risks effectively
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knowing that associated devices are an important part of everyday life but can present challenges and risks
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being safe online whilst using a variety of technology in our evolving world.
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The assessment of Online Safety is via teacher observations, discussion and the Knowledge Map Impact tool.
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It is the role of the Online Safety champion to ensure continuity and progression across the whole school. This is carried out through the following opportunities: pupil voice, analysing the results of the Knowledge Maps. It is also important to identify areas of the curriculum/resources, which need further developing or implementing. It is also imperative that we promptly tackle any Online Safety issues when they arise and be aware of current.
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