We are committed to promoting online safety for the whole school community at St. Matthew's. 

For our children: we teach e-safety throughout each half term. Our Digital Leaders provide child-to-child learning, collaborate with the Online Safety Group, and much more. We carry out a range of surveys, as well as hosting whole school and key stage assemblies. We host competitions and work with other organisations, such as Childnet. We have our rules for online safety on display throughout the school. Every child signs an Acceptable Use Agreement, at the beginning of the academic year.

For our staff: we provide regular training, collaborate with others and we carry out surveys. All governors, staff and volunteers read and sign our Acceptable Use Agreements annually.

For the rest of our school community: we tweet (on our school Twitter page) posters with lots of information about various online topics/ issues. We share information weekly in our newsletter. We host workshops to create a greater awareness of current issues. We carry out surveys and we provide training opportunities. We encourage all families to read and acknowledge our Acceptable Use Agreement and to create their own rules for internet safety, at home. We report annually an overview of e-safety issues that have arisen within our school. We offer families to anonymously report internet safety. E-safety and linked policies are available on the school website.

Online Safety Group

The Online Safety Group was established in November 2020. The purpose of this group is to encourage collaboration and support from all members of our community. We plan to meet 2/3 times per academic year to discuss a range of issues around online safety. 

Please email school if you would like to receive a copy of the latest meeting minutes.

Members: Mrs Costello, Mrs Hazeldine, Miss Hill, Mrs Pawson, Mrs Baird (E-Safety governor), Phillip Hilton (PCSO), Jason Brown (School ICT Technician) and the Digital Leaders.

The 8 core areas of e-safety are: 

• Self-image and identity
• Online relationships
• Online reputation
• Online bullying
• Managing online information
• Health, well-being and lifestyle
• Privacy and security
• Copyright and ownership

Our progression statements have been developed from the following document. 

Online Safety Alliance

Our E-Safety Rules

Follow the 10 rules and stay safe online.

 1. Never give out personal information.

2. Tell a grown-up if you find something that is not right.

3. Never agree to meet people.

4. Never send your picture.

5. If someone says something mean online, tell a grown-up.

6. Don’t do things online that you know are wrong.

7. Check before you download anything.

8. Don’t give out your password.

9. Set up rules for going online.

10. Show your parents and carers how you use the internet. Share!

For parents: The Internet opens up the world to children and young people. It allows for many wonderful educational and learning opportunities. In addition to useful education tools on the Internet, a great deal of content also exists that is not appropriate for children. We hope that the information in our E-Safety Policy will support you in keeping your children safe in this digital world.