Castleview
Online Safety for Parents
Worried about something you have seen online?
If you have seen something that you feel is offensive or you have seen harmful material online, no matter where it is, please use the button below to report it.
The Report Harmful Content button is a quick and simple method for helping anyone to report offensive or harmful material online, no matter where they are.
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What is Ollee?
Ollee is a digital friend for children aged 8-11, created by Parent Zone and BBC Children in Need’s
It helps children explore feelings around subjects – like school, family, friends and the world – and supports conversations between children and parents through connected accounts.
In the app, children can select an emotion they’re feeling – maybe happy, sad, worried or something else – and it will give them ideas about what to do. Even if they’re not sure, Ollee will help them figure it out. With prompts such as, “I feel lonely”, “no one listens to me” or “I’m growing up”, Ollee gives children supportive advice about that subject and how they feel.
Parents and guardians can create an Ollee account for themselves, as well as their child. By linking accounts, children and parents can share Ollee’s advice and ideas together, helping to start a conversation about feelings. Adults can also explore the different emotional scenarios a child might be experiencing – with tailored parenting advice.
Try it out now in a web browser or download the app to your device.
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Alan Mackenzie - Our Online Safety Expert!
"Online safety has been a passion of mine for a very long time; I love technology and the huge benefits that can be realised through global connectivity and collaboration...I strongly believe if you educate children using the spaces they engage in, they understand more, they're more enthusiastic, they engage and therefore the likelihood of positive impact is greater."
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you want to know more about TikTok, read the Parent Zone Library guide, which has in-depth information on the app.
Checklist for Staying safe on Tik Tok
SWGfL has updated its TikTok checklist leaflet. This helpful resource covers how to set up parental controls, how to block users and where to go for further help, plus more.
Primary school children aged 7-10 years old are increasingly being groomed to perform sexually online by predators warns the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
The IWF, the UK hotline to report and remove child sexual abuse imagery online, have warned that since the beginning of the pandemic, they have witnessed an increase of 1,058 per cent in the number of webpages depicting sexual abuse imagery of children aged 7-10. This content was recorded by predators via internet connected devices and shared online. Please click on the image above to view the full report.
Supporting Children to Deal with Upsetting Content
They might not be able to pinpoint its location on a map, and they might not fully grasp the historical and political drivers behind the conflict – but in this age where news, images and video can cross continents in seconds, many children are now aware of the terrible recent events in Israel. It’s a situation, of course, that could cause youngsters extreme distress and worry.
Our #WakeUpWednesday guide contains some valuable pointers for supporting children to deal with upsetting content they’ve encountered online – whether that’s the attacks in Israel, ongoing worries over the environment, or something else entirely. Our tips will assist trusted adults in helping young people to process any negative emotions that they may be feeling.
What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Among Us.
Created in 2018 by a small indie studio that (at the time) had only four employees, Among Us has become one of the gaming world’s biggest breakout hits of recent years. In 2020, for example, it was the world’s most-downloaded mobile game. Its simplicity helped Among Us to resonate with younger players in particular: the game’s second largest audience slice is the 13–18 age bracket.
While the 7+ age rating, emphasis on teamwork and cartoonish, colourful graphics all suit a young fan-base, however, the game does carry more serious risks than betrayal by a team-mate or an untimely on-screen demise – with in-game purchases and possible contact from strangers on our #WakeUpWednesday guide’s list of hazards that trusted adults should bear in mind.
What Parents and Carers Need to Know About WhatsApp
This online safety guide is an updated examination of WhatsApp – the globally popular messaging platform which contains both old and new hazards for young users.
Information on AI Virtual Friends
Reuters reports that ChatGPT is the fastest-growing consumer app in history, with around 13 million users per day 
Given those sorts of figures, it’s no surprise that a host of AI imitators have arrived – with many being grafted onto existing social networking platforms.
The guide looks at the type of AI-powered online companions proving popular with younger users – and highlights what trusted adults need to know about these ‘virtual friends’.
Please click on the image above to download a PDF version.
Information on Smart Watches
They’re convenient for staying in touch on the go (almost two billion messages are sent from smartwatches every year), but this simultaneously can put younger wearers at risk of being contracted by strangers via their smartwatch – if the device isn’t configured properly. There’s more advice on how to avoid potential smartwatch pitfalls below:-
Please click on the image above to download a PDF version.
Information on 
Spotify has become the world's most popular music streaming service - but how suitable is it for children to listen to? This guide brings you the inside track on Spotify!
Please click on the image above to download a PDF version.
Please click on the link above.
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Student Code of Conduct (Sep '22)
To ensure the continuing education and online safety of Castleview's students, the children spend a portion of their year's first Computing lesson on a Code of Conduct. The Code keeps the children up to date with the latest guidelines and ensures they know exactly what to, and not to do online. These are are all discussed and understood as a class, before every individual in KS1 and KS2 signs their own personal copy. These rules also appear every time a child logs in to their school computer to remind them how to conduct themselves online.
Please click below to see the rules:-
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Highlights
Online Safety Committee Updates
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Stay upto date and keep your child safe in the digital world.
Below are some useful links to keep yourself abreast of latest developments.
Parent Zone have produced a guide to all the latest online platforms that are currently trending with young people.
Follow the link https://parentzone.org.uk/advice/parent-guides
The new Better Internet for Kids (BIK) website features a section specifically dedicated to parents and carers to help them influence, support, educate and protect their children in the online world.
https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/fr/discover/parents-and-carers
Common Sense
Kids today spend over 50 hours of screen time every week. Common Sense helps adults and kids thrive in a world of media and technology. One of the services they provide are trusted reviews for Games, Books, Apps and Movies - so you know exactly what is and is not appropriate.
Click on the image below to visit:
Microsoft's Top Tips for Safer Families
For more detailed information and advice from the company, visit: Microsoft - Online Safety.
Click here for general information, advice and guidance on keeping your children safe online.
The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Child Online in 2021
