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• Llangyfelach Primary School receives award for Online Safety

  Fri 07 May 2021

  Assessors from the South West Grid for Learning recently visited Llangyfelach Primary School to review the school’s online safety provision. The Assessors met school staff, parents and carers, Governors and pupils and were pleased to find that the school provides a high level of protection for users of digital technologies.

   

  The South West Grid for Learning Trust provides the internet connection and a range of other services to schools across the SW region and, as the lead partner in the UK Safer Internet Centre, is in the forefront of national and international developments in online safety.  To enhance these services, they have developed a tool to help schools address online safety issues, not least the changes to Ofsted and Estyn inspections, which include a stronger focus on safeguarding. The online tool allows schools to evaluate their online safety policy and practice and then suggests how the school might do more to protect young people and staff.

   

  To apply for the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark, schools have to reach a series of benchmark levels when they complete the online self review. The evidence is then verified by a visit from experienced Assessors.

   

  The prime benefit of using the review and applying for the Online Safety Mark is that it does not focus on the individual aspects of online safety such as technological solutions, but instead it integrates online safety into school policy and the curriculum, challenging teachers and leaders in the school to think about their provision and its continual evolution.

   

  Schools are expected to show that they have provided a high standard of online safety education and awareness for all staff, pupils and also for parents and carers, to ensure that these users of digital technologies can be safe online – whether they are in school, in their homes or out and about using mobile devices.  

   

  Following their visit, the Assessors reported that a strong commitment to Online Safety is clearly evident from the leadership team with the headteacher working closely with the Online Safety Group. Also apparent, is the involvement of a strong pupil voice group, called the iTeam, in driving improvements in online safety and digital technologies across the school.

   

  The iTeam are a strong pupil voice group within the school that have had external training through various agencies and companies, to ensure the group have the appropriate skills.  As well as dealing with a number of core ICT tasks, they are also effectively used to share Online Safety messages and develop resources such as assembly materials and posters. Staff and Governors are keen to point out how helpful the iTeam have been throughout the school for parents, governors, staff and pupil training on different aspects of digital learning.

   

  With the help of the iTeam, the school has embedded the DCF including Digital Citizenship and online safety into its areas of learning and themes across the school. Learners displayed a sound level of knowledge and were able to outline a number of key experiences and messages for Online Safety.

   

  Relevant policy documents are in place and cover the necessary areas adequately. These include an Online Safety Policy and relevant acceptable use agreements, providing clarity and guidance to all stakeholders. Strong references to Online Safety are also found in the behaviour policy, safeguarding policy and other relevant school policies. The policies have gone through a stringent process, starting from the Pupil Voice Group, iTeam, then making its way through area leads and SLT, finally being signed off by the monitoring committee of the Governing Body.  The Governing Body at Llangyfelach Primary School show a strong commitment to Online Safety and through their link governor for this area, have challenged the school and monitored policy development.

   

  Ron Richards, Lead Assessor for the 360 degree safe Online Safety Mark congratulated the school on its success and commented that it was re-assuring to know that the school had put a lot of thought and effort into improving the online safety of the staff and young people, by addressing these important safeguarding issues.