E-Safety

At Stifford Clays Primary, we want every child to feel safe and confident when using technology at home and in school. E-safety means helping children understand how to use devices, apps, and the internet responsibly, while also knowing what to do if they see something worrying, receive an unpleasant message, or feel uncomfortable online. Parents play a key role by setting clear expectations, supporting good habits, and keeping communication open.

For primary age children, practical safety steps make a real difference. Please encourage your child to use age-appropriate websites and apps, keep passwords private, and remind them never to share personal information such as their full name, address, school details, or photos. It is also important to agree simple rules about screen time, where devices can be used (for example, in shared spaces), and what to do if they are contacted by someone they do not know. If your child receives messages or images that worry them, they should stop, tell an adult straight away, and not respond.

We recommend using parental controls and privacy settings, along with regular check-ins to review what your child is using and who they are interacting with. In school, we teach children how to recognise safe and unsafe online behaviour, how to report concerns, and how to think carefully before posting or sharing. If you have any questions about e-safety, or you would like guidance on setting up devices and accounts, please speak to the school—we are here to support families.

Parental Controls

Parental controls are an important way to help keep young people safe online. They allow you to set healthy boundaries, reduce exposure to inappropriate content, and support your child to develop safe and responsible online habits. Parental controls are not about limiting independence, they are about creating a safe digital environment while your child learns to navigate the online world confidently and responsibly.

We encourage all families to use parental controls at home. They work alongside the online safety education we provide in school and help ensure that young people can enjoy technology while staying protected.

Parental controls can help you:

Filter inappropriate content (e.g. adult content, violence, gambling).
Set screen‑time limits for apps, games or devices.
Manage app and game downloads, including age‑ratings.
Control in‑app purchases to prevent accidental spending.
Limit access to social media or set age‑appropriate restrictions.
Monitor usage to understand how your child is spending time online.
Restrict location sharing to protect privacy.
Block or allow specific websites depending on your child’s needs.

These tools give parents greater oversight while still allowing young people to explore the online world safely and gradually build independence.

How to set up parental controls on an iPhone (iPads use the same Screen Time system as iPhones).

How to set up parental controls on an Android device

Helpful E-Safety websites and resources

Many parents tell us they want to support their child’s online safety but aren’t always sure where to start. The websites below offer clear, reliable and up‑to‑date guidance to help families understand risks, set up parental controls and have confident conversations at home. They include step‑by‑step instructions, videos and practical advice for a wide range of devices, apps and online situations.

Internet Matters – Practical guides for all devices, apps and broadband providers

NSPCC Online Safety Hub – Advice for parents on risks, controls and conversations

ThinkUKnow (CEOP) – Government‑backed advice on keeping children safe online

Childline – Support for young people worried about online behaviour or bullying Guides on social media platfroms and games, reporting routes and safety tips

BBC Own It – Child‑friendly advice on digital wellbeing and safe choices

Online Safety Newsletters and other resources for Staff and Parents

We also produce termly Online Safety Newsletters, which share the latest information, trends and tips for parents and staff to help keep our young people safe online. Occasionally, we will also send out an additional Online Safety Briefing when a particular issue arises whether it is a national concern or something affecting our local community so that families receive timely, relevant guidance to help keep children safe online.