ICT (including online safety)

As well as working with schools, The Education People and Children's University staff are committed to supporting children, young people and their families with home learning and enrichment opportunities.

We appreciate that this is an uncertain time for families but we hope that these home learning resources help you enjoy your time with your children, even in times of social distancing, self-isolation and possible lockdown.  Making happy memories, whilst learning during this time, will be very important to all.

These links have been given to us by a variety of partners including The Education People Advisors, Children's University Managers, Learning Destinations, libraries and partners such as the Safer Internet Centre.  

This section of our website will be updated each day so do come back every now and then to see what's new.  Do click on the subject links on the left tab for more specific resources available to schools and families.

These resources have been supplied to us by the Safeguarding (Online Protection) service from The Education People

A letter for all parents and carers regarding online safety:  Please read

20 Apps to keep your children entertained

• The closure of schools across the UK has left many parents and carers in the sudden, unexpected position of being home-school teachers. Schools are providing support where they can, but there are also still plenty of smartphone and tablet apps that can be used as part of learning.
  

Childnet: Parents and carers support

• In this section you will find all the information you need to keep your child safe online.  Whether you're puzzled by parental controls or would like to get knowledgeable about gaming, this section can help. We all know that it can sometimes be challenging to keep up to speed with what children and young people are doing online. On this page you'll find a whole host of useful ways to help keep your child safe.

Childnet: Support young people online

• Information and advice for parents and carers on supporting young people online.

Home Learning Packs from Stonewall

• At such a difficult and uncertain time, Stonewall knows that education staff, parents and carers are facing unprecedented challenges. However, it's at times like these that we can come together to help each other. That's why Stonewall has launched a series of home learning packs. Whether you're a teacher sending work home for your students, or a parent or carer looking for some activities for your child, these packs are for you. There's a primary, secondary and SEND version of each pack, complete with suggested activities and supporting materials to support your child's learning:

1. Creativity learning pack:  The creativity packs include a range of activities with curriculum links to art, computing, DT, English, music, PE and PSHE.
2. Different families learning pack:  The Different families packs include a range of art, English and computing activities for Primary, Secondary and SEND pupils.
3. LGBT history learning pack:  The LGBT history packs include a range of art, DT, English, history, music, science, PSHE, PE and computing activities.

Internetmatters.org: Helping parents keep young people safe online

• Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.

Minecraft lessons

• Get started with Minecraft: Education Edition using these starter kits, each with lessons, downloadable worlds, and tutorials in core school subjects.
  

Nature in Your Neighbourhood

• Nature in Your Neighbourhood offers a fulfilling and creative project that young people aged 5 to 19 can complete within their schools or homes - plus a chance to win fantastic prizes including filmmaking equipment. 

NSPCC: Online Safety

• It can be hard to know how to talk to your child about online safety. From setting up parental controls to advice on sexting, online games and video apps, we can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe.

Parent Info (from CEOP and Parent Zone)

• Help and advice for families in a digital world.

Think U Know resources for parents and education packs

• To help you during COVID-19 and the closure of schools, they will be releasing new activity packs with simple 15 minute activities you can do with your child to support their online safety at a time when they will spending more time online at home. Download your first pack today!

• If you are part of Children's University, Essex CU has Validated the following activities.  For each of these completed challenges CU Learners will receive 1.5 hours of Learning Stamp credit.  You will need to keep the evidence to email to kcu@theeducationpeople.org in the future:

1. Suitable for children aged 4 to 5
2. Suitable for children aged 5 to 7
3. Suitable for children aged 8 to 10
4. Suitable for children aged 11 to 13
5. Suitable for children aged 14+

UK Safer Internet Centre

• As a parent or carer you play a key role in helping your child to stay safe online.

  You don't need to be an expert on the internet to help keep your child stay safe online. Our advice and resources are here to support you as you support your child to use the internet safely, responsibility and positively.

Other support materials include:

Blockly

• Games for tomorrow's programmers.  It's fun and free to use!

The Open University

• The Open University's OpenLearn where all the courses are free. Good for older young people and parents/carers too!  

Kent Children's University and The Education People's Online Protection team's Safer Internet Challenge

• We launched this back in February 2020, to coincide with Safer Internet Day but have reopened the Challenge so families can get involved again.  Please note:  If you decide to decorate pebbles, please keep hold of them until we are permitted to move around freely outdoors again.

Safer Internet Day resources, activities and quizzes for young people

• Although Safer Internet Day was on the 11th February, there are still marvellous resources available to families to promote safer internet use at a time when they might be active online than usual.  Why not create an Online Family Agreement?    

Scratch

• Creative computer programming. 

Skills Miner

• Unearth your inner engineer.  Take control of the future of engineering … it's in your hands.  Colliding gaming and engineering together, Skills Miner is a newly created world, which uncovers, captures and endorses your gaming expertise against engineering skills.