Online Safety
At King’s Cross Academy, we want every child to become a confident, responsible and resilient digital citizen.
Technology is an important part of children’s lives, learning and relationships. Our approach to online safety is therefore not simply about protecting children from risk; it is about giving them the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
Online safety is an important part of our safeguarding practice and is a shared responsibility across our school community. We work with pupils, staff, parents and carers to help children recognise risks, make informed choices, seek help when they need it and develop positive habits that will support them as technology continues to change.
Our Online Safety Policy can be found on our policies page.
How we teach online safety
- Through the curriculum
Online safety is taught progressively and in an age-appropriate way throughout the school. Children learn about privacy and personal information, online relationships, respectful communication, misinformation, harmful or inappropriate content, managing their digital footprint and knowing when and how to ask for help. - Through safeguarding
Online safety is an integral part of our wider safeguarding work. Staff are trained to recognise and respond to online concerns, and children are regularly reminded of the trusted adults they can speak to if something online worries or upsets them. - Through our technology
The academy uses appropriate filtering and monitoring systems on its network and devices. These systems form one part of our wider approach to keeping children safe online. - Working with families
Children’s digital lives extend far beyond the school day. We work in partnership with parents and carers by sharing guidance, resources and updates about emerging online risks, apps, games and technology.
If you have a concern about your child’s safety online, please contact the school. Safeguarding concerns can be raised with our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Baxter.
Supporting your child at home
The most effective way to support children online is to keep the conversation open. Take an interest in the games, apps and platforms your child uses and make online safety part of everyday family conversations.
We recommend that families:
- talk regularly about what children are doing, watching and experiencing online;
- agree clear, age-appropriate expectations for devices, games, apps and social media;
- check age ratings and privacy settings together;
- use parental controls where appropriate, while remembering that these do not replace conversation and supervision;
- help children understand that personal information, images and passwords should be protected;
- talk about kindness, consent and respectful behaviour online just as you would offline;
- encourage children to question whether information, images and videos they encounter online are reliable;
- make sure children know how to block, report and seek help when something makes them uncomfortable;
- encourage healthy habits around screen time, sleep and device use; and
- remind children that they can always speak to a trusted adult if something goes wrong.
Most importantly, create an environment in which children feel able to tell you what has happened without worrying that they will immediately lose access to their device. Children are more likely to seek help when they know they will be listened to and supported.