We take online safety very seriously at Hazlemere C of E and would appreciate you taking the time to report any online safety issues. 
 

Excerpt from December 2025 Newsletter regarding Guiding Digital Childhoods and AI.

Parents may remember a large survey that was completed on Smartphone use and Online Safety last academic year. This was done among our partner schools in the Chiltern Area Partnership (CAP). Once Spring Term begins we will be communicating with parents as to the next steps we will be taking in partnership with our parents/carers.

As a school, we continue to work closely with our colleagues across the Chiltern Area Partnership (CAP) to strengthen both our online safety education and our collective approach to supporting families in the digital age. While Hazlemere School remains at the forefront of teaching pupils how to navigate the online world safely and wisely, we know that we must also support parents in the growing challenge of delaying their child’s entry into the smartphone (and, by extension, social media) world.

As you may be aware, the evidence is now overwhelming: both are linked to increased risks for children’s mental health, attention, and social development at this age. With this in mind, I want to give parents advance notice that from September 2026, Hazlemere Church of England School will be aligning with many of our CAP partner schools by no longer accepting smartphones among the small number of devices pupils are permitted to hand into the office.

We recognise that some children may need a smartphone for health, safety or affordability reasons, and these cases will be reviewed individually.

To support parents, you are invited to a free live online workshop on Tuesday, 4th February 2026 (7–8.30 pm) with Papaya to launch the Guiding Digital Childhoods Voluntary Register and to share practical guidance, such as how to set up a smartphone to function as a “dumb” device and better alternative starter options for older primary pupils.

More details will be shared next half-term, but please make a note in your diaries. Finally, please look out for our upcoming Hazlemere Church of England School Artificial Intelligence Principles, which will explain how AI is beginning to be used by staff to support teaching and efficiency, and how we will approach AI education with pupils in line with DfE and Ofsted guidance.

We need your help to ensure all users of online resources provided by the school feel safe at all time

CEOP
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The CEOP  (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) logo pictured here is on a lot of social networking sites.  It is the Advice, Help and Report button.  Clicking on it will take you to their website, where you can easily follow links for help if you are a parent or child. It is excellent, so please try it now!

Thinkuknow
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Highly recommended is the Thinkuknow website.  Click the image to go to the website and get the latest safety information. This is an education initiative by CEOP - the UKs national law enforcement agency that focusses on tackling sexual abuse of children. Below are some quick links for parents to some key questions and Top Tips in their 'Growing up online' section.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day is a day that is very important to our school and pupils. Safer Internet Day is run by the INSAFE network and is celebrated every year across Europe, and in other countries worldwide. 

Click the buttons below to download the information available at this year's Safer Internet Day.

Online Safety Links for Parents

Keep your child safe online
The Department for Education have updated their information for parents and carers to include a section on keeping children safe online, which we feel is important to share with you. It provides links to online resources that will help you to keep your children safe online.

Where can I go to get support to help keep my child safe online?

There is a lot of support available to keep your child safe online. Below are some useful links to help parents and carers:

• Thinkyouknow (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online)
• Internet matters (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
• Parent info (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
• LGfL (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
• Net-aware (support for parents and careers from the NSPCC)
• UK Safer Internet Centre - What are the issues?
• Childnet International - Hot topics
• Childnet International - Parent factsheet
• Disrespect Nobody - Healthy relationships

Do you know what social media your child uses?

Instagram Age-Appropriateness

Instagram is not for children under the age of 13. Instagram has strict Terms of Use and Community Guidelines that make their age requirement clear. Also, there’s an obvious connection between Instagram and other adult-intended social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Whatsapp The minimum age to use WhatsApp is 13 years old, after it was lowered from 16 in the UK in April 2024. While this aligns with the age limit for many other popular platforms, such as TikTok and Snapchat, it's important to remember the potential risks, like exposure to inappropriate content, online bullying, and contact from strangers. Parents are encouraged to set clear rules, discuss safety, and utilize privacy settings to help protect their children while using the app.

Facebook  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13129150

Twitter "Our Services are not directed to persons under 13. If you become aware that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us at privacy@twitter.com. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we take steps to remove such information and terminate the child's account. 

Apps to help children stay safe online

The BBC has a website and app called Own It. The website helps children navigate their online lives, and the free smartphone app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support in the moments that children need it the most. It can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
SafeToNet is an app for parents to help them protect their children from online risks like cyberbullying and sexting, while respecting their child’s rights to privacy.

Support for children

If your child is worried or needs support, they can get advice and support from Childline (0800 1111) or download the ‘For Me’ app.