Online Safety Overview
At Burnside Primary School, we are committed to providing a robust, progressive, and empowering online safety curriculum. In a rapidly evolving digital world, our sequenced curriculum ensures both breadth and depth—combining discrete online safety lessons with timely, age-appropriate discussions about emerging digital trends and social changes. We act swiftly, proactively, and sensitively to address any online safety concerns or incidents that arise, ensuring our pupils learn how to navigate the online world responsibly.
Digital technology continues to shape modern life, and navigating this landscape safely requires genuine digital literacy. While children grow up surrounded by technology, we know that being a frequent user does not automatically make a child a safe or responsible digital citizen.
Our Online Safety framework is explicitly built around our school motto—be safe, be smart, be kind—ensuring every pupil is supported to thrive, achieve, and belong in both physical and digital spaces.
How Online Safety Reflects Our Values
Be Safe: Online safety and digital resilience are embedded across every year group. Children learn how to protect their personal information, manage privacy, recognise risks, and know exactly where and how to seek help when needed. Creating this safe digital foundation enables pupils to thrive with confidence.
Be Smart: We build essential digital literacy skills, teaching children to evaluate online content critically, spot misinformation, and recognise unreliable sources or unsafe contact. By understanding how digital systems work, pupils develop the critical thinking skills needed to achieve safe and smart online choices.
Be Kind: The internet is a powerful tool for connection. We teach pupils how to be empathetic, respectful digital citizens—promoting positive online behaviour, challenging cyberbullying, and ensuring everyone experiences a true sense of belonging online.
Our Whole-School Approach to Digital Safety
Discrete & Responsive Curriculum: Online safety is explicitly taught across all key stages, equipping pupils with critical thinking, digital resilience, and healthy screen-time habits, while remaining flexible enough to address new online trends as they emerge.
National Online Safety Support: We utilise the National Online Safety Hub to empower our entire school community—providing up-to-date guidance, training modules, and practical resources for staff, governors, pupils, and parents.
Continuous Staff Training: We prioritise ongoing professional development so our staff remain confident, knowledgeable, and consistent when guiding children through digital safety. Staff regularly participate in updates, team briefings, and assemblies to stay ahead of emerging online risks and safeguarding strategies.
Strong Home-School Partnership: We believe keeping children safe online is a shared responsibility. Through regular updates, newsletters, and guidance, we support parents and carers in reinforcing safe, positive digital habits at home.