Online Safety
A message from our Digital Leader, Miss K Jones
Hello,
I'm the Digital Leader here at HVCS and your 'go to' if you have any questions or concerns which are technology/online related.
On this page, you will find information regarding general online safety, our work linked to Safer Internet Days, as well as information relating to our Smartphone Free Childhood campaign that we are supporting.
Together with our wonderful team of Digital Wizards, we will continue to work hard to ensure we achieve our digital vision.
Our digital vision here at HVCS is:
Learning together to motivate, inspire and challenge each other to become confident digital users in an ever-changing world.
HAPPY school community working together.
VALUING ours and others’ digital well-being by staying safe online.
CARING for our future selves by gaining technology skills now. SCHOOL is the place where our digital journey starts to help build us a brighter future.
I'm here to help in any way I can, so please don't hesitate to contact me on the gate at 3:15 or via email at year6@hawardenvillage.wales.
Safer Internet Day 2026
We have been celebrating Safer Internet Day 2026, with learning based around the theme 'Smart tech, safe choices – exploring the safe and responsible use of AI'.
As well as carrying out activities linked to the theme in individual classrooms, our wonderful Year 6 Digital Wizards have delivered some very important information through assemblies across the school. They have also recorded a special video for adults to inform them of the safe and unsafe uses of AI, as well as some general online safety tips.
Please take a moment to watch their video and absorb the important messages.
We have made it clear to the children that the use of AI should be limited for children. Many of the AI websites which you ask questions to have an age restriction of 18, due to the level of what they would be able to access. In school, we do not allow the use of these websites for learners.
SID 2026..mp4
Keeping your child safe online
The following slides provide information on how you can help to ensure your child stays safe online. There is information linked to PEGI ratings, which help advise you on how age-appropriate apps and games are for children, the importance of having open communication, examples of age-appropriate apps for your child's age range, and who to speak to if you have any concerns.
Online Safety for Parents.mp4
Smartphone Free Childhood
Smartphone Free Childhood is a grassroots movement of parents who believe childhood’s too short to be spent on a smartphone.
Below you will find links to information related to the use of smartphones and their effects on children. Please take the time to read this information and consider joining the pact!
Family Online Safety Plan
Why not sit down as a family and create your own ‘family online safety plan’? Open communication is essential, and this is a great place to start!
Some general tips on staying safe online
1. How to lock your social media setting: www.internetmatters.org
There is a Social Media section on their page offering a ‘step by step’ guide on how to set the security setting for each site.
2. If you receive a suspicious text message, forward it to 7726
3. If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk
4. Check for data lost by checking your email address or phone number at: https://haveibeenpwned.com
5. Protect your online world with good strong passwords. 'Three Random Words' https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/three-random-words
6. Use this free password checker to see if your current password is any good! https://www.security.org/how-secure-is-my-password
7. Reduce unwanted incoming calls https://www.truecall.co.uk/
REMEMBER Always report any suspicious activity online, particularly if you are concerned with content your child has seen, or if someone has been speaking to your child you do not know.
All Social Media Sites contain adult material, so negotiating Social Media can be difficult for a child.
Further information and support can be found on:
Please take a moment to look at the websites below, offering good advice and handy hints to help protect your family online.
Remember: Today's issues become tomorrow's problems unless all children have the right attitude online.