It was Safer Internet Day on February 6th, with this year’s theme being: ‘Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence, and navigating change online’.
A great example of how we take online safety and responsibility seriously as a school community is our Digital Leader programme at King’s Ely Prep. Mr Daniel Everest, who is Head of Key Stage 2 and Computing and Digital Innovation at Prep, has supported the Childnet International Digital Leaders initiative for many years.
The scheme is available to all pupils in Years 7 and 8. We find that the children love the fact it gives them a voice, responsibilities, and opportunities to inform and engage – not just with each other, but also with pupils in younger year groups, staff, and parents and carers.
Through the programme, we are able to celebrate the digital safety learning that occurs in school with our families; share online safety advice and tips with all members of our school community; promote open and family-orientated discussions about digital safety; and provide parents, families, and carers with advice about apps and games, the majority of which is delivered by the Digital Leaders themselves.
This year, to celebrate Safer Internet Day, Mr Everest and the Digital Leaders, some of whom are pictured, launched new digital safety pages for students and parents/carers to access on our ‘SharePoint’.
Mr Everest said: “These new digital safety pages are a resource for both students and parents/carers. We want to encourage safer use of apps, games, and websites. The school’s Digital Leaders have created short information videos containing tips and advice for users. We have just completed our first, which is on the app, Roblox, which is certainly an app many of you will be familiar with. The main digital safety page contains a short introductory video followed by links to different apps. Below the videos there is an information poster and useful links to other websites.
“I am also pleased to announce that I am planning to recruit six new Digital Leaders per year group in Key Stage 2 over the coming weeks. Please encourage your children to consider taking on the responsibility as part of their King’s Challenge Award!”