Online Safety at Our School

At St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child learns how to navigate the online world safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Online safety is a fundamental part of our safeguarding approach and is taught progressively from Early Years through to Year 6 in line with DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements and Ofsted expectations for a broad, well‑sequenced curriculum.

Our online safety provision combines the 1decision PSHE curriculum, the MGL Computing curriculum, and whole‑school safeguarding practice to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to stay safe online—both now and in the future. 

Our Curriculum Approach

A Sequenced, Age‑Appropriate Online Safety Curriculum

Online safety is taught explicitly through PSHE and Computing and reinforced through assemblies, themed weeks, class discussions, and ongoing safeguarding practice. Learning builds each year so that pupils develop a deeper understanding as they mature, following the recommended progression outlined in national guidance.

Early Years & Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

Children learn simple but essential rules for staying safe online. They learn:

• To keep personal information private
• How to recognise kind and unkind online behaviour
• What to do if something worries or upsets them online
• The difference between real‑life and online friends
• Basic password safety

Topics include:
Online Reputation, Online Bullying, Online Relationships, Privacy & Security, Self‑Image & Identity, Managing Information, Health & Wellbeing, and Copyright

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3–4)

As children become more independent online, teaching focuses on:

• Digital footprints and online reputation
• Trust, respect, and boundaries in online relationships
• Recognising unhealthy or unsafe online behaviours
• Understanding fake news, misinformation, and how searches work
• Making responsible choices about online identity

Children explore real‑life scenarios and create guides, posters, and charters to embed their learning.
 

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5–6)

Pupils prepare for the increased independence of secondary school. They learn:

• How online information is used to form judgments
• How to manage privacy settings and protect personal data
• The risks linked to image sharing, social media, group chats, and digital peer pressure
• How scams, phishing and targeted content work
• Recognising manipulation, persuasion, and online influence
• Stereotypes, identity, and respectful online behaviour

Pupils also explore cyberbullying in depth, understanding its unique features and impact, and learn strategies for supporting themselves and others.
 

The CO:RE 4Cs Model of Online Risk

We use the CO:RE 4Cs framework to help children understand different types of online risk and protective strategies:

• Content – harmful or misleading information they may see
• Contact – interactions with strangers or untrusted individuals
• Conduct – how behaviour online can harm themselves or others
• Contract – risks linked to terms & conditions, scams, or in‑app purchases

This framework supports our whole‑school safeguarding approach and is woven throughout our PSHE and Computing lessons.

How Online Safety Is Delivered

Online safety is not a one‑off lesson. At our school, it is:

Taught Explicitly

Through 1decision PSHE and MGL Computing lessons, covering digital literacy and safety from Years 1–6, with defined objectives, discussions, videos, and practical tasks.
 

Embedded in the Wider Curriculum

Teachers revisit key messages in:

• English (e.g., online research)
• RE and PSHE (e.g., respectful relationships)
• Computing (digital literacy and safety skills)

Reinforced Through Whole‑School Practice

We deliver:

• Regular online safety assemblies
• Workshops and discussions linked to safeguarding themes
• Parent updates through newsletters and the school website

Our MGL Computing Curriculum: Online Safety Overview

Below is a summary of the Computing Online Safety Topics taught from Years 1–6:

These modules work alongside PSHE content to ensure comprehensive coverage of all key online safety strands.

Supporting Pupils as Safe, Responsible Digital Citizens

By revisiting online safety each year, pupils learn how to:

• Protect personal data
• Communicate safely and respectfully online
• Recognise threats, scams, and unsafe online situations
• Seek help from trusted adults when something feels wrong
• Balance online and offline life
• Challenge misinformation and stereotypes
• Make healthy, responsible digital choices

Online safety is an essential part of our safeguarding provision and ensures that children are equipped for life in an increasingly digital world.

Internet Safety

Please click here: https://parentzone.org.uk/home 

or here: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

or here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

or here: https://www.internetmatters.org/

or here: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk

for up-to-date information on how to stay safe online. 

Click here: https://www.net-aware.org.uk to find out the up-to-date information on online apps and games. 

Click here: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/keeping-children-safe-in-education-caspar-briefing for up-to-date information on how schools, parents and carers can work together to keep children safe online.