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Dear <<First Name>>
Welcome to the last 2020 edition of our Online Safety Newsletter. We're sure you are all looking forward to the Christmas break.
As ever, there are a number of Online Safety updates this month. Remember, you can copy and paste our first item into your own communications with parents.
Please get in touch with the team if you have any questions about this or if we can support you in any way.
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In this months newsletter:
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Item for Parents
Feel free to copy this section to keep your parents regularly updated.
Setting up new devices for children
Many children (and some adults!) will be receiving new devices as gifts this Christmas. To help parents and carers ensure these devices are safe for children to use, Net-aware have released this useful guidance. It covers laptops, phones, tablets, games consoles and other devices and can be found at:
https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/new-devices
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*Christmas vector created by stories - www.freepik.com
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Safer Internet Day Materials for Schools Launched
Safer Internet Day is now only two months away and this year in the UK, the theme explores reliability online. To support schools, the UK Safer Internet Centre has launched a range of teaching materials for all age groups. including; films, lesson plans, assemblies and activities.
Find all the resources and further guidance at:
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2021/i-work-young-people
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This year's eLIM ePledge: Recognise Reliability
In addition to the UKSIC materials, we have launched our annual Safer Internet Day e-Pledge for schools to show their commitment to keeping their pupils safe with technology.
This year, our e-Pledge theme is Recognise Reliability
Signup to the eLIM e-Pledge, by committing to each class at your school creating a check list to separate fact from fiction and sharing it with their parents/carers. Schools who make the pledge will receive a certificate to display in school and to add to Online Safety evidence files.
Full details, including the link to our sign-up form are at:
https://bit.ly/eLIMRecogniseReliabilityePledge
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TikTok Family Settings
Although TikTok has an age limit of 13, we are aware - as with most social networks - that pupils of all ages use it and its popularity has grown hugely during the two lockdown periods in 2020. TikTok say they've 'taken a number of steps over the past year to improve and enhance our teams, policies, controls, and educational resources.'
They have also introduced 'Family Pairing' which allows a child's TokTok account to be linked to their parent's, giving them control over Screen time, Content and Messaging.
Full details can ne found at:
https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/tiktok-introduces-family-pairing
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Facebook apps guide for schools
Many schools are now using Facebook's family of apps to communicate with each other and/or parents and carers. This includes Facebook Pages, Facebook Groups, Facebook Live, Messenger and Whatsapp. As such, South-West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) have launched a new guide to support schools in using these platforms in a safe and professional way.
https://swgfl.org.uk/assets/documents/a-guide-to-facebooks-family-of-apps-for-schools.pdf
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STAR toolkit for young people with SEND
The STAR toolkit, from Childnet, is 'An extensive teaching toolkit to equip, enable and empower educators with the relevant knowledge they need to support young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).'
It includes resources such as key vocabulary, discussion starters, quizzes, ways to revisit and extend learning, and documents to share with parents and carers,and was updated this year with new resources.
Find out more and start using the toolkit at: https://www.childnet.com/resources/star-send-toolkit
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Avon and Somerset Constabulary Cybercrimes Update
On December 17th, Avon and Somerset Constabulary are holding a virtual event for secondary students and parents about young people being coerced into using their bank accounts for criminal purposes, known as 'Money Muling'.
Details and booking are at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cybercrimes-children-social-media-online-gaming-tickets-132265181719
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Updated ActiveBYTES planning
All Spring Term ActiveBYTE lesson plans for 'I am safe and secure' have been updated in preparation for January.
Some plans have been completely rewritten and there are minor changes to many of the plans, so please let colleagues know to use the new version from the ActiveBYTE webpage rather than a plan they may have downloaded last year.
We have also produced a new KS2 assembly for schools that may have used the previous spring assemblies.
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Subject Leader Update Meetings
Our Subject Leader Update Meetings are a chance to meet with colleagues to develop your expertise as the leader of computing/technology in your school, including embedding effective online safety practice, review and monitoring. They will be held online this year and, as always, will be free for subscribing schools to attend (£40 for non-subscribing schools).
Spring Term 2021
The Spring update session will provide the opportunity to:
- Increase understanding of your role as subject leader
- Identify ways to embed effective practice for computing, use of technology, blended learning, online safety
- Consider how your school will review and monitor these areas
Choose the date that suits you best and click the link below to book your place:
Weds 10th March: 1:30 – 3:00pm
Thurs 11th March: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Tues 16th March: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Summer Term 2021
Details of content and booking details for the Summer update coming soon. Put the date that suits you best in your diary:
Thurs 17th June: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Tues 22nd June: 1:30 – 3:00pm
Weds 23rd June: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
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eLIM Conference 2020 Videos
Like many other events, our conference this year took place online, over two twilight sessions. Entitled 'Diving Deep In Computing', they were a great success, with a large number of attendees from Somerset and beyond.
In Part One, we heard from Lord Jim Knight, who inspired us to consider the importance of preparing our children for the world they are growing up in. This was followed in Part Two by Dale Lane, from Machine Learning for Kids, demonstrating how we can teach Primary aged pupils about machine learning, highlighting the importance of children and young people understanding how their data can be used.
For those who were unable to attend, or anyone who would like to revisit them, we are publishing videos of both parts.
Part One: Dive with Intent - Lord Jim Knight at eLIMConf20 can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/iJeHLp9ZSPw
Part Two: Dive Towards the Future - Dale Lane presents Machine Learning for Kids will be launched soon. Subscribe to our Youtube channel to receive a notification.
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We would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy a well deserved break and we look forward to supporting you in 2021.
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Get in Touch
If you need any support or have any questions about Online Safety, GDPR (Data protection) or the Computing curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact us directly:
elimadmin@somerset.gov.uk
Not subscribed? Sign up to receive the eLIM Online Safety newsletter directly to your inbox every month.
The eLIM Ed Tech team,
Julia Briggs, Amy Brittan and Matt Mustafic
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