Dallam Community Primary School

Use of the Internet can have risks. Young people are more at risk of exposure to inappropriate or criminal behaviour if they are unaware of the dangers.

These dangers include:
• viewing unsuitable content e.g. hate material, adult content, sites that endorse   unhealthy behaviour
• giving out personal information
• arranging to meet an online 'friend'
• becoming involved in, or the victim of, bullying, identity theft, or making and sending indecent or illegal images
• spending too much time online (internet addiction), which can effect concentration, sleep and health
• copying information from the Internet or buying work from other people to use as their own.

At school, through our comprehensive E-Safety curriculum, we aim to give children the skills they need for later in life. There are three key rules, that if children stick to, will allow them to use the internet in a safe and responsible way.

1.  ZIP IT - Don't give any personal information out when using the internet but also don't say anything unkind. To help you do this, many websites have security/privacy setting that allow you to only communicate with people you know!

2.  BLOCK IT - If you do see anything you don't like on the internet, encounter anything inappropriate or illegal or you are a victim of cyber bullying, remember that you can BLOCK these people/sites.

3.  FLAG IT - If you do come across anything that makes you go 'UH-OH' remember to let somebody know straight away. At school this might be your teacher. If you are at home remember that you should always let an adult know!

 Our school participates in a Police led initiative called Operation Encompass. This is a partnership between Cheshire schools and the Police, which helps schools to better support any child where a domestic incident has been reported to Police from their home.

Following a domestic incident, the Police will make contact with the child’s school via telephone and secure email (usually the next day) to communicate relevant information to a nominated, fully-trained member of school staff. This will ensure that as a school, we are made aware early enough, to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe, supported and listened to. It will also provide an opportunity for school to offer support to the whole family.

Each school has two members of staff called a ‘key adult’ who are trained to liaise with the Police, when required, whilst ensuring support is available to the child.

The initiative was launched county-wide at the beginning of 2016. It is active in all Cheshire schools.  You can find out more about Operation Encompass via the following site: http://www.operationencompass.org/.

If you would like to speak to someone further about the initiative, or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Atkin.