E - safety

E- safety  

                                                                 

Using technology can benefit children and young people, however it can be mis-used and become a threat towards them and possibly lead to danger. There are policies and procedures within learning environments in order to implement the use of E- safety revolved around safeguarding children and young people. The Government guidance across the UK highlights the importance of safeguarding pupils from harmful and inappropriate online material (Department for Education, 2018; Department of Education (Northern Ireland), 2017; Scottish Government, 2017; Welsh Government, 2015). Therefore, it is important for children to know the consequences of not being safe online. The people who will be involved with the aspect of E – safety are the members of staff, the pupils, the parents, and the local authorities. The children are known as the victims and the members of staff, the parents and the local authorities all have a role in having a child centered approach and protecting every child.   

The parents and practitioners are expected to play an important role in implementing E – safety for children and young people. Practitioners specifically play a part in enhancing children’s education and they are looked upon as a role model towards students and should create a positive example. Practitioners could ‘take part in a safeguarding course that covers e-safety for pupils’ (Bateman, A, 2017) as this could become very beneficial for them and they will find it easier to handle and support a child or young person who is being abused online, along with taking care of their own health and wellbeing. The parents are known as the primary nurturer for their children and are expected to also remain as a standard role model. They should always check the security and suitability of the websites that children are using on a regular basis, along with ensuring that their child knows when a website is not safe. Parents and members of staff should be able to identify the signs and symptoms of a child being in danger online. For example, if a child is becoming distant, quieter than usual or not focusing on their school work, there is a possibility that they could be in danger.  In learning environments, where there are assemblies, visitors are welcomed in to discuss these types of matters to children and explain how to stay when using technology. These include ways of preventing danger through technology and the consequences for being in this situation. Videos like these are shown in classrooms and assemblies to inform children of how to stay safe online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrln8nyVBLU. Another way of implementing the use of remaining safe online is by holding events such as the E- safety day which takes place every year on the 5th February in order to encourage children and young people to remain safe when using technology. The quote for this event is known as ‘Together for a better internet. This is a short and catchy slogan to allow children to remember it.  There are ‘2,100 organisations and schools across the UK getting involved to help inspire a national conversation about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively’ (UK Safer Internet Centre, 2019). It has made a huge impact on how children and young people have become aware on how to stay safe online and what effects it has if they are unsafe.  

Students who are using technology are very vulnerable if they have not been provided with the knowledge on how to stay safe online. Cranmner et.al (2009) suggests that some children may even find themselves in situations where they are exposed to danger knowingly or unknowingly, along with activities which are inappropriate or possibly illegal. This may be due to the amount of knowledge and information that the child or young person has received about being safe online, along with the lectures about the consequences if they are not safe and possibly in danger. If a child is not safe online, they may be talking to a stranger, being abused or bullied, or being scammed. This affects their behaviour towards certain situations and it can damage their cognitive development. They can even become nervous, possibly aggressive or show uncharacteristic traits if they are not safe online. Their academic ability could alter, and it is possible that children or young people who are in danger online will not have the stimulation or motivation into wanting to learn or think towards their futures.  

Reference list 

Bateman, A (2017) What is e-safety and why is it such an important issue in education? Available at: https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/news/safeguarding/2018/01/e-safety-important-issue (accessed : 29/04/19) 

Cranmner, S, Selwyn, N, Potter, J (2009) Exploring primary pupils’ experiences and understanding of ‘E – safety’, Springer, 14: 127-142 

NSPCC Learning (2019) E – Safety for schools. Available at: ://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/e-safety-for-schools/ (accessed: 15/04/19) 

UK Safer Internet Centre (2019) Safer Internet Day 2019. Available at: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2019 (accessed : 18/04/19)