Award recognises online safety commitment
Parents and staff have completed a comprehensive online safety training programme at Theddlethorpe Academy, demonstrating its commitment to keeping children safe online.
Principal Mrs Cook celebrates the accreditation with pupils (left to right) Connor McKenna, Freya Hewitt (both Year 6), Rhys Lambert (Year 3) and Sienna McNamara (Year 1).
The Academy has received a National Online Safety Certified School Accreditation for its whole school community approach to protecting children.
Principal Susan Cook said: “We are very pleased to have achieved the accreditation.
“Parents, carers, staff, and governors have been working towards the National Internet Safety's school accreditation programme, which has given them access to online safety resources, webinars, and courses.
“We know educating children on how to stay safe when using the internet is an essential component of their overall development and is incorporated in the curriculum they follow in school.
“Along our journey we have worked alongside our parents and children to develop their own understanding of online safety problems so that they may learn how to use the internet and all other forms of digital media in a way that is safe and secure for them.”
Parent Melissa Gill is one of a number of parents who has undertaken the online training.
“I completed five of the courses, and will be doing more,” she said. “They included understanding bullying online, mental health, and internet safety for 7 to 11s.
“It surprised me how much I learned,” said Mrs Gill. Her nine-year-old daughter attends the school and eldest daughter Sophie (11) left last summer.
“You want your children to have the knowledge but they need to do so safely.
“The courses were easy to access and simply done.
“It’s a great idea as well because it brings the school and home together.”
Pupils (left to right) Sienna McNamara (Year 1), Freya Hewitt, Connor McKenna (both Year 6) and Rhys Lambert (Year 3) with Principal Mrs Cook and the award.
National Online Safety is a multi-award-winning digital training provider with extensive resources in online safety, developed in line with the Department of Education’s statutory requirements.
Its CPD accredited courses and educational resources support UK schools in educating the whole school community in online safety– including all senior leaders, teachers, all school staff and parents – on how to make the internet a safer place for children.
James Southworth, co-founder of National Online Safety, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Theddlethorpe Academy on becoming a National Online Safety Certified School.
“By completing our training programme, the school has shown its strong commitment to implementing an effective whole school approach to online safety.
“It can be increasingly difficult for schools and parents to stay ahead of online threats and ensure both children and staff are safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material.
“We arm schools with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and react in the best way possible to any problems.”
