St Bernard's Catholic Primary School

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Online Gaming and Online Safety

Online/e-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at St. Bernard's Catholic Primary School . We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any online/e-Safety incidents are recorded and managed.  Online/e-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the e-Safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.

Information on this page is only suitable  for parents.

Much of the information is for parents to then be able to inform children in an appropriate way. As always, the links are given in good faith, but if you find anything on the following websites or links that you feel are unsuitable, please inform school and we will endeavor to deal with your request as quickly and responsibly as we can. The sole aim of directing parents to the following sites is to keep our children safe and we are in no way sponsored by the sites or companies themselves to advertise their site.

 

Gaming has become an area where online safety is becoming a serious issue.  More and more games give children access to online chats where there is the potential for harm. There is also a serious issue with regards the suitability of games. Seemingly innocuous games can contain disturbing images or actions.

 

Please be aware of the following: 

  • Younger children may access unsuitable games being played by older children/young adults.
  • Young children left unsupervised on ipads and other devices can unintentionally find unsuitable online material.
  • Do children always know who they are playing against/with?
  • What information are they unintentionally giving away?
  • Are they spending money on a game without realising it through in-APP costs?

The following websites aim to give as much information as possible in order to help parents keep children safe whilst gaming:

 

CLICK the image above to visit the PEGI website

 

About PEGI? What are ratings?

"Age ratings are systems used to ensure that entertainment content, such as films, videos, DVDs, and computer games, are clearly labelled by age according to the content they contain. Age ratings provide guidance to consumers (particularly parents) to help them decide whether or not to buy a particular product.

Computer and video games are now enjoyed by millions of players throughout Europe. In the UK, 37 % of the population aged between 16 and 49 describe themselves as ‘active gamers’ (defined as currently playing games on a console, handheld or PC). In comparison, in Spain and Finland 28% of the population aged 16 and 49 are defined as ‘active gamers’(Nielsen report 2008). While most games (49%) are suitable for players of all ages there are many that are only suitable for older children and young teenagers. There are also some games (4%) that are made for adults only (over the age of 18).

The rating on a game confirms that it is suitable for players over a certain age. Accordingly, a PEGI 7 game is only suitable for those aged seven and above and an PEGI 18 game is only suitable for adults aged eighteen and above. The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty.

PEGI is used and recognised throughout Europe and has the enthusiastic support of the European Commission. It is considered to be a model of European harmonisation in the field of the protection of children."

PEGI website

Image result for cbbfc

Please CLICK the image above to visit the Children's British Board of Film Classification website.

"This site is designed to give children the lowdown on age ratings in the UK, and offer them the chance to find out about recent films and think about how age ratings work.

It can support any learning around films and history they are doing in school – but also offers them the chance to think about how they watch films and take responsibility for their own viewing.

It is here for parents too. You can find out about our BBFCinsight, which gives clear, concise information about what issues a film contains, and see how we work with children through our education programme and listen to their views about age ratings."

CBBFC website

Online-gaming-an-introduction-for-parents-and-carers .pdf

This useful document is full of incredibly useful information. It can be downloaded and printed and shared with your child.

Incredibly user friendly!

 

CLICK the image above to visit the NSPCC website.

"Gaming can be a great way for young people to relax, socialise with their friends and have fun. Children can play on games consoles, apps or websites, and chat to other players or watch them play through live-streaming.

But there are some dangers. And with so many games available online, it can be hard for parents to know how to keep their child safe.

That's where we can help. Our tips and advice will keep you up-to-date with the most popular online games, help you decide what's appropriate for your child - and help them play safely."

NSPCC website

 

Internet Matters

CLICK the image above to visit the Internet Matters website.

"Online gaming means you can play in real time with people across the world through a computer, games console, tablet or smartphone connected to the internet. Games can offer children a world of adventure to immerse themselves in, but it’s important to understand how children can stay safe and what games are appropriate for their age."

Internet Matters Website

To have more information about online gaming and privacy settings, we advise you go directly to the company website