E-Safety update

Recently Childnet have updated their parent and carer toolkit that will help parents have conversations about online safety. Their booklet ‘Let’s talk about life online’ includes ten key messages that should be shared with children:

  1. “You can always come to me if you need help.”
  2. “What would you do if this happened…?”
  3. “Remember that not everyone is who they say they are online.”
  4. “Keep your personal information safe, and other people’s too.”
  5. “Be respectful to others online.”
  6. “Think before you post.”
  7. “Remember to ask if it’s okay.”
  8. “Remember not everything is true online.”
  9. “The things other people post online might not always show what their life is really like.”
  10. “Recognise how going online makes you feel and take a break when you need to.”

The Parent and Carer Toolkit can be found here.

Remember to check our newsletter weekly for the E-Safety tip of the week written by our Digital Leaders!

Attendance

Attending school regularly is key to maximising learning, making good progress and developing a child’s confidence in their abilities and in their friendship groups. Units of learning are taught over a short period of time; missing one session can affect children’s confidence and knowledge in an area and, if absence is long, the area of learning can be missed out altogether.

We strongly advise, therefore, that holidays are taken during the 13 weeks available during the year for family holidays. When absence is taken and not authorised, the local authority is notified and a fine may be issued. We appreciate an openness with parents when requesting term time absence, which, in special circumstances, may be approved. The Government regards attendance below 90% as persistent absence and, although we understand that children should be absent from school when unwell, we have a duty inform parents if attendance falls below 90% at the end of each term. To promote attendance, an attendance cup is given to the class with the highest level of attendance on a weekly basis during Achievement Assembly.  Children who attend school for 100% of the time are rewarded with a certificate at the end of the year.

Sanctions may include issuing each parent (for each child) with a Penalty Notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days (for the first offence) whether the school has been informed about the holiday or not. Please refer to the school Attendance Policy.

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