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Safeguarding Updates

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  • Social Media Checklists - Updated

    Published 29/11/23

    South West Grid for Learning have produced some great checklists for social media and regularly update them. The most recent updates are for Snapchat and TikTok which are helpful for parents and carers as well as students.

    You can find the Snapchat checklist HERE and the TikTok checklist HERE.

    Best wishes,
    Mr S Auckland
    Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

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  • Up-to-date contact details

    Published 15/11/23

    May we please remind all carers and parents to keep the school updated with any changes to contact details and addresses. It is vital that we have the correct details in the event that we need to get in touch.

    Best wishes,

    Mr S Auckland
    Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

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  • Minimum age limits for social media platforms

    Published 08/11/23
    A reminder that the following platforms have these age limits:
    • 13: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Omegle, Discord

    • 16: Whatsapp, Tumblr, Flickr, Periscope

    • 18: Clubhouse, Monkey, Meetme, LiveMe, Tagged, Yolo

    Snapchat remains one of the most popular apps used by children and young people. 

    Snapchat has a Family Centre feature and the company has added a couple of updates recently which parents may find useful, this includes seeing which friends their children have been sending messages to and a complete list of their child's existing friends.

    There is a full breakdown of the Snapchat safety features on the family centre HERE

    Best wishes,

    Mr S Auckland
    Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead
     
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  • School & personal email addresses

    Published 08/11/23
    School and personal email addresses

    A reminder to all parents/carers that students should have their own personal email for anything outside of school. Bexley Grammar School email addresses should only be used for school communication.

    Mr S Auckland
    Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

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  • OxCAMHS Bexley ~ Calling all young people/parents & carers

    Published 08/11/23

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  • Phone settings & keeping kids active over the summer break (advice from INTERNET MATTERS)

    Published 05/07/23

    Dear Parents/Carers,

    May I take this opportunity to remind carers and parents of the importance of checking children's phone settings? We have been made aware of young people receiving unwanted upsetting content on their phones outside of school because privacy settings have been left unlocked.  

    On a separate note, as we approach the summer break, internet matters have produced a handy guide to apps that support young people keeping active over their holiday:

    https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/apps-guide/apps-to-help-kids-get-active/

    Kind regards,

    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head
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  • Artificial Intelligence

    Published 28/06/23

    Dear Parents/Carers,

    You will no doubt be aware of the many discussions taking place around Artificial Intelligence. One area of AI which has seen rapid increased popularity is that of chatbots and AI friends, which are available on many platforms, such as Snapchat. As ever, it is vital that we know what our young people are experiencing when using such technology, and that we are active in talking to them about it.

    National Online Safety have produced this handy guide for parents to consider what carers and parents need to know about AI Virtual Friends.

    Kind regards,

    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head

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  • Potential risks associated with Vaping

    Published 07/06/23

    Dear Parents/Carers,

    This week I would like to draw your attention to concerns around vaping. While in the past it may be marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, it is crucial for parents and carers to be aware of the potential risks associated with vaping.

    Health Risks:

    Vaping exposes individuals to various harmful substances, including nicotine, chemicals, and potentially toxic aerosol particles. The long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, but early research suggests it can lead to:

    1. Nicotine addiction: Vaping products often contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can have a significant impact on a young person's developing brain.
    2. Respiratory issues: Vaping can cause lung damage and respiratory problems, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It may also increase the risk of respiratory infections.
    3. Cardiovascular problems: Studies have shown that vaping can negatively affect heart health and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
    4. Adverse effects on mental health: Evidence suggests a link between vaping and increased anxiety, depression, and mood disorders in adolescents.

    Gateway to Smoking:

    Vaping can serve as a gateway to traditional cigarette smoking. Research indicates that young people who start with vaping are more likely to progress to smoking cigarettes later on.

    Unknown Long-Term Effects:

    Since vaping is a relatively new phenomenon, the long-term health consequences are not yet fully understood. However, early studies raise concerns about potential risks to overall health and well-being.

    We would encourage you to explore resources on the risks of vaping. The following websites provide valuable insights and evidence-based advice:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    BBC health

    By educating ourselves about the dangers of vaping, we can have open and informed conversations with our children, helping them make healthy choices. It is important to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your child, discussing the risks associated with vaping and reinforcing the importance of making responsible decisions.

    If you have any concerns or require further support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

    Kind regards,
     
    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head
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  • What Parents & Carers need to know about Telegram

    Published 16/05/23

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  • Online Gaming

    Published 07/03/23

    Online Gaming

    White Hatter have produced an excellent article for the parents of gamers. This is written about Canada, but is relevant internationally:
     
     
    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head
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  • Online awareness and parental controls

    Published 22/02/23

    Online awareness and parental controls

     
    We often highlight to parents and carers the areas of the Internet which pose the most obvious risks to our young people. However, the tactics that online offenders use are not always obvious. We all know that criminals will use a variety of social engineering tactics, but to be able to use those tactics there has to be some form of engagement, which requires communication features. Whether that is messaging on Snapchat or chatting within a video game, if there is a communication feature, then there is a potential risk to any child or young person. 
     
    We have recently been made aware of online extremists targeting young people playing games as a means of introducing radical views, and even the chat option on Spotify being used to initiate abusive relationships. As always, we would encourage all parents and carers to take an active interest in regulating what our young people are doing online and their communications.
     
    Internet matters have produced some helpful guidance on parental controls here:
     
    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head
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  • Vaping/ e-Cigarettes

    Published 18/01/23
    Vaping/ e-Cigarettes

    The long-term health effects of vaping are still not clear, but the legal age to use or purchase vapes and associated materials is 18, and they should not be sold to, or used by, school children. As with any age-restricted item, bringing such material into school will have serious consequences. 

    Vapes are also ecologically disastrous: 1.3 million single-use vapes are being thrown in UK landfills every week: enough to cover 22 football pitches in a year. Single-use vapes made up 52 percent of all vapes bought in the UK amongst 18 to 34 year-olds last year.

    We have heard that there are some newsagents and other outlets in the local area who have been selling vapes to under 18s without carrying out rigorous age checks. An additional concern is that some vapes are being designed to look quite innocuous, such as single use Elf Bars, pictured above.

    Mr S Auckland, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head

     

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