My choices matter, and I can always ask for help.

     

    

At St Edward’s, we have carefully considered the risks our children may encounter in their everyday lives—from Castleton’s busy roads, railway and canal to online spaces and interactions with others. We have designed our curriculum and enrichment opportunities to help children recognise these risks and develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to respond safely, now and as they become more independent.

Our message is simple: my choices matter, and I can always ask for help. We teach children to pause and think, resist pressure to make unsafe choices, respect personal boundaries and seek support from trusted adults.

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 Why this matters for our children

Our children use the internet to learn, play and communicate. Through games, videos and messaging, they may encounter upsetting content, unsafe contact or pressure from others. We help them recognise risks, protect their personal information and make thoughtful choices about what they share and how they behave. Children learn that they can always ask a trusted adult for help—even if they have made a mistake or someone has asked them to keep a secret.

 What we teach

We teach online safety through our Computing curriculum (Kapow) and PSHE curriculum (Jigsaw), revisiting key messages as children grow in confidence and independence.

In Computing, children learn practical ways to protect personal information, use secure passwords, communicate respectfully and recognise unsafe content or contact. They develop the skills to question what they see online, recognise misleading information and understand how the things they share can leave a digital footprint.

In PSHE, children explore online friendships, kindness, personal boundaries and the impact of technology on their feelings and wellbeing. They practise responding to peer pressure, recognising bullying and identifying trusted adults who can help.

Our teaching begins with simple messages about feelings, privacy and asking for help, building towards more complex decisions about trust, sharing and responsible technology use. Throughout, children learn that they can pause, make their own choices and seek help—even when something has gone wrong.

We reinforce this learning through everyday conversations, reminders and adult modelling. When children use technology, staff model safe and respectful choices, encourage them to question what they see and hear, and remind them how to seek help. We respond to children’s questions and experiences so that online safety becomes part of daily school life.

Our annual participation in Safer Internet Day provides a further opportunity for discussions and activities that help children apply their learning to situations they may encounter.

Making safe choices

We teach children to pause and think before clicking, sharing or responding. They practise protecting personal information, resisting pressure from others and stepping away from uncomfortable situations. Children learn that they can always ask a trusted adult for help—even if they have made a mistake.

Knowing how to get help

Children learn to tell a trusted adult if anything online worries, upsets or confuses them. We teach them how to explain what has happened, use reporting and blocking tools, and keep asking until they receive help. They can always speak up—even if they have broken a rule or been told to keep something secret.

Advice and resources for families