There are many benefits of using IT at home, these can include:
• improving attainment;
• improving IT skills and makes learning fun;
• offers choice in what is learnt and how it is learnt;
• supports homework and revision;
• flexible range of learning materials;
• improves presentation of work.
However, despite these benefits we still need to be aware of what our children are accessing. Here are some useful “home rules” to keep young people safe:
• put the computer in a family room and not a bedroom, so that you can supervise what your child is accessing online;
• agree and manage the amount of time your child spends online and in front of a screen;
• mobile phones, games consoles and other devices often have internet access—check sites are age-appropriate and bookmark child friendly sites or search engines for your child to use;
• let your child know they can come to you if they encounter anything they are unhappy about;
• if you have serious concerns report these to CEOP. You can report to CEOP on our home page.

The internet is always changing, and being able to keep up to date with your children's use of technology can be a challenge, especially if you feel that your children may have better technical skills than you do. However, children and young people still need support and guidance when it comes to managing their lives online and using the internet positively and safely.

Online safety in school

At George Tomlinson we know that it is important to teach pupils about the underpinning knowledge and behaviours that can help them to navigate the online world safely and confidently regardless of the device, platform or app. Children in every year group take part in lessons each term to learn how to safe online.

5 SMART tips to share with your child to stay safe online

Safe:

Keep safe by being careful not to give out personal information when you’re chatting or posting online. Personal information includes your email address, phone number and password.

Meet:

Meeting someone you have only been in touch with online can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents’ or carers’ permission and even then only when they can be present. Remember online friends are still strangers even if you have been talking to them for a long time.

Accepting:

Accepting emails, IM messages, or opening files, images or texts from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems – they may contain viruses or nasty messages!

Reliable:

Someone online might lie about who they are and information on the internet may not be true. Always check information by looking at other websites, in books, or with someone who knows. If you like chatting online it’s best to only chat to your real world friends and family.

Tell:

Tell a parent, carer or a trusted adult if someone, or something, makes you feel uncomfortable or worried, or if you or someone you know is being bullied online.