Technology is now a vital and exciting part of our working and social lives. At The Maidstone and Malling Alternative Provision, our pupils and staff use technology in many forms to support learning and teaching. The school systems are managed to protect staff and pupils from any risk. 

Internet use in school is filtered and monitored. Restrictions on Internet use will be placed in line with the school's ICT acceptable use policy. 

Key Tips for Being Safe

• Only email people that you know (why not set up an address book?).
• Never open an email sent by someone you do not know, even if it has familiar phrases or offers you something.
• Never send or tell other people your passwords.
• When using direct messaging, websites etc. be careful and know how to block and report unwanted users.
• Never use your real name when using games or websites on the Internet, (create a nickname).
• Never give out any personal information about yourself, friends or family online including home address, phone or mobile numbers.
• Never email your school name or a picture in school uniform (even to a friend).
• Never arrange to meet anyone on the Internet unless you know them in real life. 
• Only use a webcam with people you known and remember those images can be sent anywhere. 
• Tell an adult that your trust immediately if you find anything that you are unhappy or uncomfortable with.
• Be aware comments you or your children make on social network, blogs, wikis and images that you send can be viewed by others. This includes games consoles too like Xbox, Playstation and Switch.

We all need to be aware of issues regarding children’s e-safety; their safety on the Internet, on social messaging sites and when texting using mobile phones. To help you to support this work at home, you can visit the following sites as parents/carers, and/or with your children, to give you more information and support in dealing with issues around e-safety.

ThinkUKnow

Families can visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents to access advice and support on how to keep children safe from sexual abuse, both online and off. Articles provide guidance on topics as diverse as: challenging harmful sexual attitudes and promoting positive behaviours; helping a child with autism negotiate life online; supporting a child who has been sexually abused; and dealing with a range of online issues such as sending nude selfies and viewing pornography. Users will find films, downloadable guides, and useful links to support organisations.

Thinkuknow is a site in which the information is brought to you by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Here you can find the latest information on the sites young people like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what is good, what is not and what you can do about it. There are resources for parents and teachers and, most importantly, a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP)

Reporting abuse www.ceop.police.uk

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) delivers a multi-agency service dedicated to tackling the abuse and exploitation of children in the real and the “e” world. CEOP was set up in April 2006 and has received over 50,000 reports of abuse to date. A key focus of CEOP is the Think U Know website and education strategy to teach young people, teachers, and parents/carers about e-Safety and the  “Report Abuse” button to report online abuse or suspicious behaviour, that can be used by adults (parents/carers, professionals etc) and young people. There is also a suite of resources to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) including children with mild to severe learning difficulties, are blind or have a hearing impairment.

Internet Matters

https://www.internetmatters.org/ 

​Internet matters is a non-profit organisation which gives parents key information about how to keep their children safe online. Online issues such as Cyberbullying, Online Reputation, Sexting and many more are covered in detail. 

The site also provides parents with age restrictions, setting controls and guides to a variety of apps.