Online Safety
“"When used safely and responsibly, the internet is a powerful place to learn, create and connect."
Intent
At Thomas A Becket Infant School, our aim is to help every child become a safe, responsible and confident user of technology. Through age-appropriate teaching and close partnership with families, we equip children with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe online, both at school and at home.
Implementation
Online Safety is taught throughout the curriculum and embedded in Computing and RSHE lessons. We use the Purple Mash 2BeSafeprogramme as our core online safety curriculum, ensuring that children receive consistent, age-appropriate teaching from Reception through to Year 2. The programme is built around eight key online safety themes, which are introduced, reinforced and revisited each year to deepen children's understanding and help them develop safe and responsible online behaviours.
Through discussion, stories, practical activities and real-life scenarios, children learn how to make positive choices online, recognise potential risks and know where to seek help if something worries them. By revisiting these important messages regularly, we support children in becoming confident, responsible and resilient digital citizens.
These are the key online safety topics your child will be learning about throughout each year:
| Autumn 1 | Self-Image and Identity |
| Autumn 2 | Online Relationships |
| Spring 1 | Online Reputation |
| Spring 2 | Online Bullying |
|
Summer 1 |
Managing Information Online Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle |
| Summer 2 |
Privacy and Security Copyright and Ownership |
We believe that educating children about online safety is most effective when schools and families work together. To support this partnership, we will send home a parent/carer guide each half term that aligns with the online safety topics being taught in school. These guides will provide further information about the themes being covered, practical advice for supporting safe online behaviours at home, and suggestions for continuing conversations about online safety with your child.
Impact
By the time children leave Year 2, they will have developed a strong foundation in online safety and digital citizenship. They will understand how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully, know how to recognise situations that may make them feel worried or uncomfortable online, and feel confident about seeking help from a trusted adult when needed.
Through regular teaching, reinforcement and collaboration with families, children will build the knowledge, skills and positive behaviours needed to make safe choices online both now and in the future. Our aim is for every child to leave Key Stage 1 as a confident, resilient and responsible digital citizen who is prepared to navigate an increasingly digital world safely and successfully.
What do our children say about Online Safety?
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- “I know that we all have a digital footprint.”
- “You shouldn’t write mean stuff online because that will be there forever.”
- “If you told someone your password, they could log on to your account. They might write mean stuff on your account and people would think it was you who said it.”
- “Be careful because someone online could be tricking you.”
- “Someone online could pretend to be one of your friends, but it might not be true.”
- “If you have a problem, ask a trusted adult like a teacher or your parents.”
- “Speak out, stay safe.”
- “Don’t tell anyone online your address.”“You should never share your password because someone else could see on your account.”
