Safeguarding Children in a Digital, Virtual, but Real World

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Safeguarding Children in a Digital, Virtual, but
Real World
Julia Codman Sheffield West City Learning Centre
Janine Walker Stocksbridge High School
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Outline

• Responsibility
• Overview
• Current Issues
• The journey so far in Sheffield
• How do we bridge the gap?

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E-Safety

• Who is responsible?

Its everyones responsibility
Maximise Opportunity but Minimise Risk
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Department for Children, Schools and Families

• Byron review March 2008 Safer Children in a
  Digital World and Action Plan June 2008 - risks
  children face from the internet and video games.
• The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS)
  launched 28th September 2008 to develop and lead
  a Child Internet Safety Strategy.
• Better regulation (content, access etc.) -
  development of a self-regulatory approach by
  industry.
• Raise awareness of e-safety issues among
  children, young people, parents and other adults
  through a public information and awareness
  campaign.
• Better education - sets out how schools and
  other services for children and families can help
  equip and empower children and their parents to
  stay safe online.
• Reforming the classification system for video
  games.
• Work with industry to improve information and
  support to parents on video games.

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CHILD EXPLOITATION AND ON-LINE PROTECTION CENTRE
(CEOP)
What they do

• Part of the Global Taskforce. Work in partnership
  to protect children and young people from sexual
  exploitation from the e-world to the real
  world.
• Aims and Objectives
• To engage and empower children, young people,
  parent and the community through information and
  education.
• In 2007/08 484 reports per month received 51
  by under 18s.

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CEOP STRATEGIC OVERVIEW 2007/08

• IM most cited environment for abuse (56
  reports) quickly move from Social Networking
  and other public sites to IM.
• Rise in reports in exposure and participation in
  sexual acts on webcam (25 over all reports from
  under 18s)
• Children and young people being asked to perform
  sexual acts and/or to witness an adult exposing
  themselves. Using threats of blackmail, hacking
  and viruses.
• On-line gaming is increasingly prominent in
  reports. Gamers requesting sexual chat and sexual
  acts on webcam in exchange for virtual money and
  virtual items.
• There is a requirement to dispense with the
  distinction between on-line and offline,
  real and virtual.

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2007 How Children Use Chat, IM and Social
Networking based on the average from the results
of 3 Sheffield Secondary Schools

• In an average class of 30 pupils
• 10 children will use chat rooms
• 20 children will use social networking sites
• 22 children will use MSN Messenger
• 22 children will use On-line Gaming

Number of pupils 1478
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WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?

• 232 pupils been asked to meet face to face
  someone theyve only met on-line
• 132 attended the meeting

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Why is this issue important ?

• What are Primary Children doing on-line?
• From an average junior school
• 44 MSN
• 123 on-line gaming
• 69 Music e.g. I-Tunes
• 25 Bebo
• 69 Club Penquin or Habbo Hotel
• 19 Chat Rooms

179 pupils
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WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?
43 children said they have been bullied through
email, text, chat and IM (MSN) 27 children have
met someone in the real world who they had
previously only met on-line. 17 went without an
adult.
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Concerns

• Increasing level of images put on social
  networking areas and the distribution of videos
  and images.
• Criminal offence posession and distribution of
  child pornography?
• Teachers on Facebook or other sites.
• Teachers accepting parents and children as
  friends in social networking areas.
• Primary parents pressurising teachers (bullying)
• Increasing levels of Cyber-bullying through text,
  email, social networking areas, gaming.
• Access of social networking sites via mobile
  technology.
• Integration of mobile and location based services
  (GPS) ability to locate

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Our Journey so far
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Sheffield Schools E-Safety Programme

• Acceptable Use Policies
• Assembly presentation
• Teacher awareness training
• On-line questionnaire
• Tutorial/PSHE support with CEOP and other support
  materials for teachers
• Student Voice feedback session
• Parents awareness evening(individual or family
  of schools)

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FUN What do U like doing?
Games, Music, Videos, Chat, Social
Networking, Text, Blogs
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Control Do U know?
Paedophiles, Bullying, Viruses, Content, Spam
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Report What can U do?
Parents/Carers, Teachers, Police, ThinkUKnow.co.uk

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One of our main challengesHow do we bridge the
Gap?
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Staff Awareness Training and Support

• ½ day training awareness raising
• ½ day programme implementation and supporting
  resources
• 101 primary, secondary and special schools have
  undertaken the training
• plus staff from the Safeguarding Board, Local
  Authority other children's agencies

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Parent Awareness

• Benefits how technology supports education.
• How children and young people interact on-line
  including social networking, MSN, chat, gaming,
  virtual worlds, Peer 2 Peer Networks.
• Outline risks and dangers in Content, Contact,
  Commerce and Culture
• Where they can find further information

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What comes next?

• SustainabilityHow can we make sure that we keep
  up the momentum and provide continued support?
• Responsibility for implementing a strategy
• Local Safeguarding Childrens Board/Local
  Authority
• Identifying the right people and structure.
• Appointment of an E-Safety Project Manager
• Sheffield E-Safety Multi-Agency Group(25
  agencies represented)
• Continue to bridge the gap by delivering the
  training.

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Are we having an impact in Schools?