17th January 2025 Dear Parent Carers, Weekly Update: 17/01/25 We hope this update finds you well. This week’s update has a focus on E-Safety, as following recent concerns we want to continue to support families to be able to help manage the risks of technology and be able to have positive and constructive conversations regarding this. E-Safety Update Recently, Parent Carers have shared concerns over phone usage; specifically involving messages, and we urge all Parent Carers to regularly check devices and put monitoring tools in place to ensure their child's safety online. As technology has become a place where many of our young people spend a lot of time, it is essential for us all to actively support keeping them safe online. E-Safety is taught in school, as part of PSHE and Computing; and themes are varied to keep up to date with new trends and emerging issues. If you do find anything of concern, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the Safeguarding Team.
Please encourage open conversations about the digital world with your child explaining both the benefits and risks. Set clear guidelines on what is and what isn't acceptable behaviour online and consider using parental controls to monitor/track activity. Fami safe, Apple Screen time and Google Family Link are all recommended monitoring tools available. Consider limiting access to the technology your child has as part of a strategy to model and teach a healthy and balanced approach. Time away from online interactions gives space to process and gain perspective.
The most important thing is to foster a sense of trust so that your child feels comfortable in coming to you with any concerns. By staying informed and involved we can help our young people navigate the online world safely and confidently. Please visit the NSPCC website which has some advice centred around online safety specifically for parents with children who have additional needs https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-familieschildren-with-send/
Sabrina Hobbs Executive Headteacher St Martins School, The Derwent Campus, Bracknell Drive, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0BT Tel: 01332 571151 Email: admin@stmartins.set.org Online: www.stmartinsschoolderby.co.uk The Shaw Education Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (no 09067175) Registered address: Shaw Education Trust, Kidsgrove Secondary School, Gloucester Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 4DL. The details of our academies registered as business names can be found at www.shaweducation.org.uk.