Miss Le Rose, what changes would you like to see in future for the school curriculum to reflect fast paced changes in the world of Computing?
Online safety is an absolute priority in this fast-paced area. With so many apps and websites being accessible to anyone, it is really important that our children understand how to stay responsible and safe, because our online footprint is something that is incredibly hard to erase. With this in mind, we would encourage improved links between school and home on the topic of online safety, so we can work together to promote great boundaries, honesty and respect.
With the importance of putting young people’s voice at the heart of Safer Internet Day, what can pupils look forward to in ACE Safer Internet 2023?
This year, the theme really opens up the opportunity for discussion about what young people feel they want to learn about online safety. It’s easy for adults to give knowledge from our own experiences and points of view, but the internet is such a different space to twenty, ten, and even five years ago!
The theme of Safer Internet Day this year allows us to ask what the children are experiencing online, what they are concerned about, and what they enjoy and this opens up the opportunity for discussion to better understand how pupils are feeling and how we can help them as a result.
With the theme of ‘Want to Talk About it? Making Space for Conversations about Life Online’, can you suggest how parents can help keep these conversations going with children at home?
It’s really helpful if parents and carers are talking regularly and making online behaviours part of daily conversation, in just same way as you would discuss their day at school. This will help children feel relaxed. It also means when they do have any worries, they’re more likely to come and speak to you.
If parents and carers try to stay calm and non-judgemental during these conversations, children will feel like this is a safe space to share their concerns. The NSPCC offer advice on their website for opening and having discussions with children about online safety in lots of contexts!
To nurture a healthy relationship with the internet, there is some great advice from www.internetmatters.org.
Families can explore the internet together and build on those open discussions; talk with them about what they do and what sites they like to visit. Consider asking children to show you what they like to do or think about playing online games together to learn about the platforms they use and teach them good habits.
It’s safer for families to set boundaries and be clear with children about what they can and can’t do online – for example, where they can use the internet, how much time they can spend online, the sites they can visit and the type of information they can share.
Of course, it is also important to stay involved by encouraging them to use their tech devices in a communal area so you can keep an eye on how they’re using the internet and also share in their enjoyment.
With increased concern about how to protect children online, what positive messages do you have for Parents and Carers about the use of Computing at home and school?
As adults we need to be wary that children might come across inappropriate content, share personal information or begin to copy what older children do online, which could put them at risk.
It is a shocking statistic that the average child posts around 26 times a day on social media but only 6 out of 10 followers are real friends. As our students grow, it is important that we understand how best to give them the freedom to express themselves, but in the safest way possible.
Computing is an amazing subject area and early use of digital technology has been shown to improve language skills and promote children’s social development and creativity, which is an incredibly positive thing!
