Online Safety
Keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility between school and home, and at The Grove Junior School, it’s a priority embedded within our School Development Plan.
We are committed to educating pupils about how to navigate the digital world safely and we work closely with parents to ensure this learning continues beyond the classroom.
Parent Training and Support
We were delighted to welcome many of you to Mary Rebelo’s online safety training in June 2025. Your engagement showed how seriously our community takes digital wellbeing. If you missed the session, you can still access the recording and resources via Mary’s Padlet:
Online Safety Padlet – Resources & Recording
Mary also recommended this excellent site for setting up parental controls across devices, apps and games:
Internet Matters – Parental Controls Guide
https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/
Current Online Safety Concerns
We regularly monitor trends in online behaviour and want to highlight two platforms that have raised concerns this year:
Despite its 13+ age rating, many children use WhatsApp to communicate with friends. Issues we've seen include:
- Spamming and hoax messages
- Inappropriate content
- Late-night texting
- Being added to groups without consent
- Unwanted contact from strangers
Roblox
Roblox remains popular but contains user-generated content that may not be age-appropriate. It now carries a Parental Guidance rating. We encourage parents to set controls and monitor usage.
Creating a Reporting Culture
We can only address online safety issues when they are reported to us. We rely on parents and children to:
- Take screenshots of concerning content
- Send them to school staff
- Encourage open conversations about online experiences
Let’s Work Together
Online safety is an ongoing journey. By staying informed, setting boundaries and encouraging children to speak up, we can help them enjoy the digital world safely and responsibly.
If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Online Safety Lead – Miss H Bunce [Deputy Head]
Computing Subject Lead – Mrs S Kilby [Year 6 Teacher]