What They See
Children may encounter material that is inappropriate, upsetting, misleading or harmful.
Harmful content • Misinformation •
Violence • Sexual content
ONLINE SAFETY
Navigating the Digital World
Working together with families to help children and young people use technology safely, responsibly and confidently.
ONLINE LIFE
Online Safety is Safeguarding
The online world offers enormous opportunities, but it can also expose children and young people to risks that are difficult to recognise or manage.
Social media, gaming, messaging, streaming, artificial intelligence and other online services form part of everyday life for many of our learners. Our aim is not simply to restrict technology, but to help learners develop the knowledge, confidence and judgement they need to use it safely.
Online safety forms part of our wider safeguarding culture. Staff remain alert to online concerns, learners are supported to understand risk, and we work with parents and carers when concerns arise.
OUR APPROACH
Protect. Educate. Empower.
Keeping children safe online requires more than blocking websites. We combine appropriate technical safeguards with education, conversations, trusted relationships and clear routes for reporting concerns.
UNDERSTANDING ONLINE RISK
What Are We Protecting Against?
Who They Meet
Online spaces can bring children into contact with people who may manipulate, pressure, exploit or harm them.
Grooming • Unwanted contact •
Exploitation • Pressure
How They Behave
Children also need support to understand how their own actions online can affect themselves and other people.
Cyberbullying • Sharing images •
Digital footprint • Oversharing
How They Are Influenced
Online platforms are designed to encourage attention, engagement and spending, which children may find difficult to recognise.
Scams • Advertising • In-game spending •
Financial pressure
ONLINE SAFETY ALERT
Have You Heard of 'The Com'?
Harmful online networks may target young people through games, social media and messaging. Find out what to look out for and how to support your child.
FILTERING & MONITORING
Safer Technology at The Bridge
Technology used within our provision is supported by filtering and monitoring arrangements designed to help protect learners.
Our internet connection is filtered to restrict access to inappropriate online material. We supplement network-level filtering with Senso.cloud, which provides additional filtering and monitoring across provision devices.
Monitoring helps us identify potentially concerning activity so that it can be reviewed and, where necessary, responded to as a safeguarding concern.
OUR APPROACH INCLUDES
- Filtered internet access
- Device monitoring
- Senso.cloud
- Staff oversight
- Safeguarding escalation
- Regular review
No filtering system can guarantee that every online risk will be removed. Technical controls work alongside supervision, education and open conversations about online behaviour.
INDEPENDENT ACCREDITATION
Friendly WiFi Approved
A Safer Connection. Independently Verified.
At The Bridge Alternative Provision, we believe that technology should provide opportunities for learning, creativity and exploration, while helping to protect children and young people from harmful online content.
We are proud to hold Friendly WiFi accreditation, confirming that our accredited WiFi service has been independently assessed against recognised minimum standards for internet filtering.
The accreditation verifies that appropriate filtering is in place to restrict access to pornography and known child sexual abuse material.
Friendly WiFi forms part of our wider online safety arrangements, alongside network filtering, Senso.cloud monitoring, staff supervision and safeguarding procedures.
While filtering helps reduce exposure to harmful content, it cannot eliminate every online risk. We therefore continue to prioritise online safety education and open conversations with learners.
DIGITAL CONFIDENCE
Skills for a Safer Digital World
Online safety is about more than knowing what to avoid. We want learners to develop the knowledge, confidence and judgement to make safer choices for themselves.
Think Critically
Not everything online is accurate, genuine or trustworthy. We help learners question what they see and recognise misinformation, manipulation, advertising and unreliable content.
Protect Yourself
Learners develop an understanding of personal information, passwords, privacy, digital footprints and the importance of thinking carefully before sharing something online.
Know When to Speak Up
We want learners to recognise when an online interaction does not feel right and know that they can always speak to a trusted adult and ask for help.
ONLINE SAFETY AT HOME
Keep the Conversation Going
You do not need to be a technology expert to help keep your child safer online.
One of the most effective things parents and carers can do is remain interested in their child's online life. Ask about the games they play, the people they speak to, the platforms they use and what they enjoy online.
Regular, calm conversations make it more likely that a child will speak to you if something goes wrong.
START WITH THE BASICS
Talk regularly about what your child does online.
Review privacy and account settings together.
Understand the games, apps and platforms they use.
Discuss advertising, purchases and in-game spending.
Agree healthy boundaries around devices and downtime.
Reassure them that they can tell you when something goes wrong.
SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT?
What Should I Do?
If your child tells you about something concerning online, how you respond in that first conversation matters.
Listen
Stay calm and give your child time to explain what has happened. Try not to interrupt, judge or immediately take control of the situation.
Reassure
Thank them for telling you. Reassure them that asking for help was the right thing to do and that you will work through what happens next together.
Preserve
Where appropriate, keep relevant messages, usernames, links or screenshots. This information may be important if the concern needs to be reported or investigated.
Report
Use the platform's reporting tools where appropriate and tell The Bridge if the concern may affect your child's safety, wellbeing or education.
REPORT A CONCERN
Tell Us About Online Safety Concerns
If you are worried about something that has happened online involving your child, please tell us. Online concerns can be safeguarding concerns and should never be dismissed simply because they happened outside the provision.
Where there is an immediate risk of harm or danger, contact the emergency services.
WAKE-UP
WEDNESDAY
WEEKLY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Wake-Up Wednesday
Online safety changes quickly. New apps, features, trends and risks can appear long before most adults have had time to understand them.
Our Wake-Up Wednesday programme provides parents and carers with regular, practical information about the digital issues children and young people may encounter — and simple steps families can take to support them.
Gaming
Social Media
Cyberbullying
Screen Time
Scams
Online Trends
FIND OUT MORE
Online Safety Resources
OUR POLICY
Online Safety Policy
Read our formal arrangements for managing online safety.
ONLINE SAFETY
CHILDLINE
Advice about social media, online bullying, sexting and staying safe.
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE
Safeguarding
Find out more about safeguarding and how to raise a concern.
ADVICE HUB
Cyberbullying
Information about bullying and cyberbullying.