E-Safety & ICT

E-Safety & Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

At Hedgewood, we support each pupil to access computing and ICT equipment safely. We have a whole school approach to e-safety. This includes the safe use of all technology, supporting our pupils to use ICT equipment and access the internet in a way that is appropriate to them. We want our pupils to enjoy all the benefits that technology can bring and, where possible, start to learn some basic skills for keeping themselves safe when online. Our aim is that the technology pupils learn to use, together with the skills they develop, will bring them pleasure and independence throughout their lives.

ICT Curriculum

Teaching and learning at Hedgewood focuses on preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom. Through careful planning of each pupil’s learning, we build their ICT skills so they can make choices and become more independent in their lives.

Our pupils live in a world in which technology is continually developing. They are exposed to a wide range of software and equipment at school, at home and out in the community. Within the school’s safe learning environment, pupils experience a range of ICT. Their first steps in ICT learning may include encountering and engaging with technology, and starting to understand cause and effect. This can enable simple choice making and expression of preferences.

Pupils can then move towards interacting with and controlling technology for learning and pleasure. Sharing, turn taking, learning to wait and participating in social interaction are key elements of our ICT curriculum.

At Hedgewood, we adapt technology to meet each individual’s needs, enabling all pupils to join in and enjoy shared activities, regardless of their physical, social, emotional or communication difficulties. Relevant ICT experiences are provided both inside and outside of the classroom, and pupils are supported to transfer their skills, using them at home and out in the wider community.

Keeping safe

At Hedgewood we encourage and enable all students from a young age to learn and practice good habits when using technology.

Keeping safe

At Hedgewood we encourage and enable all students from a young age to learn and practice good habits when using technology.

At home as at school our children and young people love to access technology whether it is iPads, phones, TV or whizzy toys. We want them to have access to the internet but it is sometimes difficult to know how to keep them safe. Our children and young people do not always have the skills to ‘self-regulate’ how they use technology / internet services and therefore are never left unsupervised at school.

 

We recommend that this would be good practice for Hedgewood Pupils at home as well.

SEND Online Safety Hub

NSPCC Net Aware has partnered with Ambitious about Autism to bring online safety tips, advice and activities specifically for parents and carers of children with SEND. It includes reviews and guidance on the most popular social networks, apps and game that children use.​

Visit the website here: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/send-online-safety-hub/

ParentSafe – dedicated portal to help parents keep children safe online

ParentSafe is a one-stop portal offering parents support and advice on safe settings, parental controls and monitoring, apps and games, talking to children about life online, screentime and key topics from bullying to extremism and gangs, fake news and more.

Visit  https://parentsafe.lgfl.net/  to find out more

View Our Curriculum

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