Online Safety

Keeping Our Pupils Safe Online

At Bradstow School, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our highest priority. This includes the time they spend online, both in school and within our residential provision.

Our Online Safety Policy ensures that young people (YP), staff, visitors, and contractors understand how to use technology safely and responsibly. It also sets out the measures we take to protect pupils from risks online.

Why Online Safety Matters

Young people face four main types of online risk:

1. Content: Exposure to illegal, inappropriate, or harmful material, including self-harm, extremist content, pornography, or biased information.
2. Contact: Harmful interactions with others, such as grooming, peer pressure, or misleading commercial adverts.
3. Conduct: Behaviours online that could cause harm, including sharing personal images or messages.
4. Commerce: Online scams, gambling, inappropriate adverts, or phishing attempts.

We manage these risks through:

• Technology: Filtering, monitoring (Impero software), secure email systems, device restrictions, and network access control.
• Policies and Practices: Supervised use of IT, risk assessments, reporting procedures, and staff guidance.
• Education and Training: Lessons on online safety, staff training, and guidance for parents and carers.

Expectations for Staff

All staff are responsible for:

• Reading and following the online safety policy.
• Supervising pupils when using IT.
• Reporting any online safety concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Leads or the ICT team.
• Not allowing pupils to use personal staff credentials to access online platforms.
• Informing the ICT department when pupils bring devices from home.

Staff must never access inappropriate material at school or during work, using any device. Breaches may result in disciplinary action.

Expectations for Pupils

Pupils are supported to:

• Learn how to use technology safely as part of the curriculum.
• Report anything online that upsets or concerns them.
• Avoid posting personal information, images, or videos without staff guidance.
• Access online content only in supervised spaces, not in bedrooms.

Visitors and Contractors

Visitors and contractors may use the school Wi-Fi or equipment only by following local rules and signing the Acceptable Use Policy. Copies are available at reception and on our website.

Managing Online Safety Concerns

While we filter and monitor internet access, complete restriction is impossible. We:

• Monitor online activity using Impero and web filtering reports.
• Hold regular web filtering meetings to update safety measures.
• Provide training and guidance to staff, pupils, and parents.
• Encourage reporting of concerns so they can be addressed quickly.

Use of Portable Devices & Games Consoles

• Our policy applies to all digital devices, whether school-owned or personal.
• Games consoles have restricted online access in private spaces but can be used in communal areas for supervision.
• Age-appropriate content is enforced; 18+ games/content is prohibited for all pupils.

Online Safety and Rights

As a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School, we teach pupils to:

• Understand their rights to access and share information safely (Article 13).
• Develop their talents and respect others (Article 29).

Online safety education is embedded in lessons and residential life to empower pupils with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others.

Key Advice for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are encouraged to:

• Talk to children about online risks and safe use of technology.
• Support school policies by supervising device use at home.
• Contact the school if they have any online safety concerns.

Reporting a Concern

If you notice anything worrying or inappropriate online, contact our safeguarding team immediately.

We take all concerns seriously and follow robust procedures to ensure every pupil is safe, supported, and protected.

Education & Training

• Staff are made aware of their responsibilities to keep young people safe online, through training sessions
• Online safety resources are available for parents and carers to access online from home. Children and young people are taught each spring term on a 3 year rolling programme with a developing focus each year.

At Bradstow, a wide range of technologies are used throughout the school and play an invaluable part in the education of all students. All classrooms have a Smartboard that allow all pupils to access lessons via resources shown on an interactive computer screen. ICT is used in the majority of subjects to engage and motivate pupils and allow them access to a wide range of environments. To ensure that all pupils have equal access to ICT, adapted versions of keyboards, screens and devices are available. Teaching staff also use portable technology in classrooms; these include iPads, image and audio recording devices and programmable devices. We are also constantly seeking to ensure that our students are digitally literate and aware the risks that technology and online communication may present. In a world where technology plays and increasing part in more and more of our daily activities it is imperative that students leave Bradstow with the knowledge of how to use such technologies safely.

At Bradstow, we teach most of our internet safety through our Friends, Relationships and Community framework, overseen by our school Designated Safeguarding Leads. The curriculum intent for 'Internet Safety' is that children will be given the relevant toolkit, alongside the vocabulary, knowledge and skills needed, to understand the many positives and dangers of using the internet. They will feel inspired to lead their own learning, engage in communication, and ultimately, understand how to stay safe on the internet. As a nurturing school, we will fully support the children in their learning, intending that all children will feel confident discussing any internet safety concerns with our caring staff team.

Bradstow has a strict Internet Protocol so that our young people are able to use the Internet safely. The London Grid For Learning (LGfL) enables our young people to access the Internet via a secure server. Internet Safety is taught discretely, as well as woven through all computing learning, in both a fun and informative way, using videos, games, stories and various other activities. The impact of our provision is that our young people will be empowered and to make the right choices when navigating online platform, and give them the tools to seek appropriate help when faced with online dilemmas.