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online Safety
In a world where technology is being used more widely and interactively all the time, South Malling’s online safety curriculum aims to equip its pupils with the knowledge and skills to use technology safely to find things out and explore ideas at both local and global levels.
We aim to give children the skills and knowledge to communicate their thoughts and findings considerately, to recognize when something is unsafe or unkind and to know what to do next. Through authentic experiences linked to other areas of their learning, we aim to inspire children to work at their challenges with all their heart and extend their learning when away from school.
Online Safety in our curriculum
To teach these objectives we use the Project Evolve curriculum, but we also make links with Life Skills lessons, class meetings, Oracy and reading.
Safer Internet Day - we use this as an extra opportunity to focus on Online Safety
Anti-Bullying Week - we use this week to focus on cyberbullying
Pupils' Acceptable Use Agreement
Progression in Internet Use
Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1
At this level, use of the Internet will either be quite heavily supervised or based around pre-selected, safe websites. Children will be regularly reminded about how to always take care when clicking and to seek help/advice from an adult if they see anything that makes them unhappy or that they are unsure about.
Lower Key Stage 2
Children will now be given more opportunities to develop their digital literacy skills (e.g. sending polite and friendly messages online to other children, the need to create strong passwords etc). They will be shown how to develop a responsible attitude towards searching the World Wide Web and will be reminded of the need to report any concerns they have. The importance of creating strong passwords and the benefits of only joining child-friendly websites will also be taught.
Upper Key Stage 2
Children will now be encouraged to become more independent at researching for information on the World Wide Web, being taught the necessary skills to critically evaluate sites for accuracy and suitability. They will be supported in using online collaboration tools more for communicating and sharing ideas with others, including being taught the need for not revealing personal information to strangers. The aim is to teach them how to manage and deal with risks they encounter by themselves, whilst at the same time encouraging them to become positive users of both new and emerging technologies.
Digital Life Skills Curriculum
digital lifeskills at south malling overview.pdf
Resources for parents and carers
parent carer online safety feb 24.pdf
Safer Internet 2025 Parent-Carer presentation
Open For Parents - Managing Screen Time Struggles
Parents and Carers Resource sheet
Online Safety Storybooks
Storybooks provide amazing opportunities for parents to read together and learn with children. These books can be used to start conversations about online safety early (and often) and enable us to explore children’s knowledge and understanding about online behaviours and risks. Storybooks can enable adults to confidently facilitate age appropriate discussions about online behaviour, as well as considering the wider impact of modern technology on everyday values.
Age recommendations are for guidance only and children’s needs and abilities should always be taken into account.
Digiduck’s Big Decision
By Lindsay Buck (Childnet International) and Ciara Flood
Available as an eBook, web version or an app here for free. Also available in hard copy.
Suitable for children aged 3-7 (also suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Digiduck is available in a variety of formats (including Spanish and Norwegian) and was produced by Childnet International to help Foundation Stage and KS1 children explore the idea of being a good online friend. Digiduck needs help to make a difficult decision about sharing photos online. Digiduck can be used to discuss issues such as online friendship, taking and sharing photos safely, online gaming and responsibility online. The Digiduck resource also compliments another e-Book by Childnet for children aged 3-7 called “Smartie the Penguin”.
Chicken Clicking
By Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
Suitable for children aged 3+ (also suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Chicken Clicking explores the story of a little chick that sneaks into the farmer’s house at night and buys herself and her farmyard friends lots of gifts. Chicken Clicking also uses the internet to go online and meet a new friend but all is not as it seems! This story is a 21st century version of the “Chicken Licken” fairy story, a familiar tale for both adults and children and provides opportunities for discussion about keeping safe online.
Chicken Clicking can be used to discuss issues such as password safety, supervision, posting personal information, taking/sharing photos, meeting online friends and trust/reliability.
Troll Stinks
By Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross
Suitable for children aged 3+ (also suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Billy Goat and his best friend Cyril are messing about with the farmer’s mobile phone, taking selfies and playing games… until they find the number for a troll. Their Grandpa Gruff says trolls are bad, so Billy and Cyril decide to get their own back by sending mean messages. After all, trolls really do stink! Don’t they?
This story is a 21st century version of the “Billy Goat’s Gruff” fairy story, a familiar tale for both adults and children and provides opportunities for discussion about keeping safe online. Troll Stinks can be used to discuss issues such as cyberbullying, being kind online and taking/sharing pictures.
Penguinpig
By Stuart Spendlow and Amy Bradley
Suitable for children aged 5-7 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils).
Written by primary school teacher, Stuart, Penguinpig is a story about a little girl who finds out about a magical creature online but her parents are too busy to help her so she sets off to find one. Penguinpig is a rhyming book which explores the issues of reliability online and the need to be aware that not everything online is true! Penguinpig can be used to discuss the issue of reliability and trust online with children.
The main message within Penguinpig is that sometimes people use the internet to lie or trick other people and strongly emphasises that children should always check content with a trusted adult.
Monkeycow
By Stuart Spendlow and Amy Bradley
Suitable for children aged 5-7 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils).
A follow-up to Penguin Pig, Monkeycow explores password safety. When a little girl creates the most delicious chocolate cake imaginable for the summer fair, she hides it in a top-secret underground base with a password for the door. Filled with delight, she makes her way around the town spreading the news and sharing the password with some locals. However, little does she know the disaster that is soon to strike…
Monkeycow can be used to discuss safe passwords with children. The main message is about the importance of keeping passwords private.
The Internet is like a Puddle
By Shona Innes and Irisz Anocs
Suitable for children aged 3-9 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
“The internet is like a puddle” uses the analogy of a puddle to explore both the fun and positive side of the internet but also to help children understand that there are often hidden risks below the surface. The book emphasises the importance of adults helping children to keep safe but also encourages children to listen to their gut instinct when something doesn’t feel right or safe online. The Internet is a like a Puddle can be used to discuss issues such as seeing upsetting content and talking to an adult.
Webster’s Email
By Hannah Whaley
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Webster’s Email is a rhyming story that explores the idea of sharing content online and how quickly things can be shared. Webster the little spider emails a funny picture of his sister but it quickly is forwarded to lots of people and throughout the book, children can count how many people end up seeing the picture. This book encourages children to be aware that once a picture has been shared online, it can’t’ always be removed and it is very hard to control. Webster’s Email can be used to discuss email etiquette, over sharing, being kind online, taking/sharing photos, meeting strangers online and using technology responsibly.
Webster’s Bedtime
By Hannah Whaley
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Webster’s Bedtime is a rhyming story which explores the need for us all to switch off from screens and internet, especially at bedtime. The story acknowledges that this is often easier said than done and enables children to think about the impact technology can have. Webster’s Bedtime can be used to discuss using technology responsibly, screen time, balanced use, gaming and using mobile phones and tablets responsibly.
Webster’s Friend
By Hannah Whaley
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Webster’s friend is a rhyming story that explores the idea of making an online friend. Webster the spider meets a new online friend who he wants to impress but he isn’t honest about who he is. Things taking a surprising turn when Webster’s new friend wants to meet him! Webster’s Friend introduces the concept of online friends to young children and highlights the fact that anyone can lie online due to the anonymity of the internet.
Webster’s friend can be used to discuss meeting strangers online, gaming, reliability, trust, speaking to an adult and using technology responsibly.
Webster’s Manners
By Hannah Whaley
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Webster learns about a new set of manners, helping him to be polite with technology and take care of his favourite gadgets and toys. However, the cheeky spider soon turns the tables on his daddy and makes him agree to the same rules! Told in a rhyming pattern, Webster’s Manners humorously helps children learn about responsible use of technology, while reminding grown-ups that they can lead by example.
Dot
By Randi Zuckerberg and Joe Berger
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Dot explores the story of a little girl called Dot who is very good at using technology. Dot knows how to tap, swipe and share online, but seems to have forgotten how to do things in the world – she then has fun exploring all the ways she can tap, swipe and share offline.
Dot is written by Randi Zuckerberg, sister of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Dot explores the need for children to balance internet use with offline world fun. It can be used to discuss using technology responsibly and the need for children to explore the world both on and offline. Dot doesn’t demonise technology and the book clearly shows that both on and offline play can be fun and exciting activities.
It’s a Book
By Lane Smith
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
It’s a Book explores the role of books in a digital age via a humorous discussion between an IT-savvy donkey, a book-loving ape and a mouse. It’s a Book can be used to discuss using technology safely and responsibly and also the different ways children can read and have fun both on and offline.
When Charlie McButton Lost Power
By Suzanne Collins and Mike Lester
Suitable for children aged 3-8 (may also be suitable for KS2/SEND pupils)
Charlie McButton explores the story of a little boy who likes computer games so much he never plays with anything the else. When a thunderstorm knocks out the electricity his tech empire comes tumbling down. Charlie needs batteries fast the only ones he can find are in his little sisters talking doll. Will he resort to desperate measures and cause his sister to have a meltdown of her own or will he snap out of his computer craze long enough to realize his sister might be fun even if she doesn’t come with batteries?!
When Charlie McButton Lost Power can be used to explore addiction and gaming and the need for children to balance technology with offline fun. The book can be used to discuss empathy, using technology responsibly (including screen time) and the need for children to explore and relationships both on and offline.
Tek The Modern Cave Boy
By Patrick McDonnell
Suitable for children aged 3-11 (also be suitable for KS3/SEND pupils)
Tek tells the story of a cave boy in love with tech: his tablet, videogames, phone, and TV keep him deep in his cave, glued to his devices, day in and day out. He never sees his friends or family anymore – and his ability to communicate has devolved to just one word: “UGH”! Can anyone in the village convince Tek to unplug and come outside into the big, beautiful world?
Tek is a tablet shaped book that explores the need to balance technology use with ‘real world’ activities. Tek can help explore the need for children to balance internet use with offline world fun. It can be used to discuss using technology responsibly and the need for children to explore the world both on and offline.
Once Upon a Time… Online: Happily Ever After Is Only a Click Away!
By David Bedford and Rosie Reeve
Suitable for children aged 3-11 (also be suitable for KS3/SEND pupils)
Once upon a time, a laptop arrived in Fairy-tale land… A happily ever after is only a click away! Find out what happens when our favorite fairy-tale characters receive a laptop and learn a lesson in online safety.
Using popular fairy stories including Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and cinderella, the book explores issues such as safe shopping.