Online Safety
Helping Children Stay Safe Online
Technology plays an important role in young people's lives. It helps them learn, communicate, be creative and stay connected with others. However, the online world also presents challenges, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online exploitation, scams, misinformation and excessive screen time.
At Wren Academy Enfield, we recognise that online safety is one of the most significant safeguarding issues affecting children and young people today. Supporting students to navigate the digital world safely is a shared responsibility between school and home.
Online incidents can have a significant impact on children's wellbeing, friendships, learning and mental health. As a school, concerns linked to social media, messaging platforms and online activity account for a considerable amount of safeguarding and pastoral support. By working together, we can help young people develop the knowledge, confidence and critical thinking skills they need to stay safe online.
Our Approach at Wren Academy Enfield
Keeping children safe online is embedded throughout school life.
We are proud to be a phone-free school. Students do not use mobile phones during the school day, enabling them to focus on learning, develop positive relationships and reduce distractions.
Students use Academy devices to support their learning. These devices are carefully managed and monitored, with access restricted to approved educational applications and websites. This provides a safer online environment while helping students develop responsible digital habits.
Online safety is taught throughout our PSHE curriculum and Computing lessons. Students learn about:
- Digital citizenship and responsible online behaviour.
- Privacy and protecting personal information.
- Healthy relationships online.
- Social media and its impact on wellbeing.
- Cyberbullying.
- Online exploitation and grooming.
- Fake news, misinformation and AI.
- Sharing images safely.
- Managing screen time and digital wellbeing.
- Where to go for help if something online makes them feel worried or unsafe.
We also work closely with families, recognising that parents and carers play the most important role in supporting children outside school.
Preparing for the Upcoming Social Media Age Changes
The Government has announced plans to strengthen protections for children using social media, with increasing expectations on platforms to prevent underage access and create safer online experiences.
While these changes will help improve children's online safety, they cannot replace the important role that parents and carers play.
You can begin preparing your child now by:
- Talking regularly about how they use technology.
- Delaying access to social media until they are emotionally ready.
- Setting clear family expectations around screen time.
- Keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight.
- Using parental controls where appropriate.
- Following the age guidance provided by social media platforms.
- Encouraging children to think critically about what they see online.
- Helping children understand that not everything they see online reflects real life.
- Encouraging them to speak to a trusted adult if anything online worries them.
By developing healthy digital habits early, children are better prepared to use technology safely and responsibly as they grow older.
Support for Parents and Carers
The following websites provide trusted, up-to-date advice for parents and carers.
Enfield Educational Psychology Service
A comprehensive local guide covering online safety, social media, gaming, parental controls and practical advice for families.
Keep Your Child Safe Online
https://www.enfield.gov.uk/educationalpsychologyservice/keep-your-child-safe-online-guidance-for-parents,-carers-and-guardians
Internet Matters
One of the UK's leading online safety organisations for parents.
Helpful guides include:
- Setting parental controls.
- Age guides for apps, games and social media.
- Screen time advice.
- Online gaming.
- Cyberbullying.
- Sexting and sharing nude images.
- Digital wellbeing.
- Online scams.
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Family agreements for technology use.
https://www.internetmatters.org
NSPCC Online Safety
Advice from the NSPCC on keeping children safe online, including:
- Talking about online safety.
- Social media.
- Online grooming.
- Live streaming.
- Online challenges.
- Cyberbullying.
- Sharing images.
- Reporting concerns.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
CEOP Safety Centre
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Safety Centre provides advice about online exploitation and allows children and adults to report concerns directly to specialist police officers.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Childnet
Childnet offers excellent advice for families, including:
- Family agreements.
- Online gaming.
- Digital resilience.
- Social media.
- Primary and secondary age resources.
UK Safer Internet Centre
Advice for parents covering:
- Privacy settings.
- Reporting abuse.
- Social media guides.
- Digital wellbeing.
- Online scams.
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Gaming.
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
Provides advice on reporting child sexual abuse images and harmful online content.
What Should I Do if Something Goes Wrong Online?
Encourage your child to remember the following:
- Stop engaging with the person or content.
- Block the account if appropriate.
- Save screenshots or evidence.
- Report the content using the platform's reporting tools.
- Tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.
Parents should contact the Academy if an online issue is affecting a student's wellbeing, relationships or ability to learn. While many incidents happen outside school, they can still have a significant impact during the school day and we will always seek to support our students.
Useful Guides
These organisations provide practical step-by-step advice on:
- Removing shared images from the internet.
- What to do if your child has shared a nude image.
- Responding to cyberbullying.
- Reporting harmful content.
- Setting parental controls.
- Managing screen time.
- Age ratings for apps and games.
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Online scams and fraud.
- Gaming safely.
- WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube safety guides.
- Family digital agreements.
- Supporting children with SEND online.
Working Together
Online safety is most effective when schools and families work in partnership. Through our curriculum, pastoral support and safeguarding systems, we help students become responsible, respectful and resilient digital citizens.
If you are worried about your child's online activity or need advice, please contact your child's Form Tutor, Head of House or a member of our Safeguarding Team. We are always happy to support you.