News, Events & Meetings
Safer Internet Day - Tuesday 7th February New
Connecting Generations is the theme for this annual event. We have developed a short video to provide schools with further information plus a new ‘Mind the Gap’ conversation starter kit for parents which schools can download.
Connecting Generations - Discover the digital world together safely
There are a range of primary and secondary resources, including posters and lesson plans, that schools can download and start using now. These can be found at:
eSafety Newsletters Updated
The latest eSafety newsletter and previous editions are now available:
The Big March 2012 – UN Campaign for Children’s Rights to be Safe New
The Big March is world’s first virtual march to help to promote the right of every child to be safe. All you need to do is visit:
On 31st January 2012 there will be a virtual march with many thousands of virtual marchers crossing the websites of some of the world’s biggest companies.
This international campaign will call on the United Nations to enshrine explicitly in the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child to be safe from bullying, violence and fear of violence by their peers as well as abuse from adults.
Karin Hutchinson, Anti-Bullying Adviser
Ann Layzell, eSafety Adviser
Barnardo's : Cut Them Free campaign New
Barnardo's, the children’s charity, are promoting their campaign called ‘Cut them free’. This is about tackling child sexual exploitation, raising awareness and tackling this form of child abuse. To find out more and join the campaign visit:
Update Videos New
 This page includes an eSafety overview from Ann Layzell, eSafety Adviser, detailing current eSafety issues and trends across the county and nationally, as well as steps you can take to tackle or help prevent problems. More...
eSafety – Formspring and Cyberbullying
Formspring is a social networking site used by many secondary aged pupils and occasionally younger children. It is based around users asking and answering questions, often anonymously. We are increasingly hearing of Cyberbullying concerns related to the use of this social networking site and would recommend schools promote the advice from CEOP to pupils and their parents/carers.
Using Facebook for School Communication and Publicity
Facebook is the most popular social networking tool in the world, with approximately 25 million user-accounts the UK. You can create a ‘Fan Page’, and use this for school communication. More...
Mobile and Personal Devices
Children of all ages have mobiles phones, often the latest versions, and many other personal devices. They offer great opportunities for communicating, sharing and accessing many exciting applications. There are however some eSafety concerns and we would encourage teachers, pupils, parents and carers to read this guidance and:
Register mobile device at:
Visit www.kidsmart.org.uk/mobiles
Immobilise Flyer
Helping you Target eSafety in Your School
 Services within the red zone are free of charge to Hertfordshire schools. Those in the blue zone are chargeable.
Advice, guidance, support and resources are approved by the HSCB eSafety multi-agency group. More...
Flexible Learning with iLearn
 Online Learning Solutions for Schools and Educational Settings
The Standards and School Effectiveness (SSE) range of iLearn modules offer a new and alternative way of online learning. Convenience is the key - you can access iLearn from work or home at a time to suit you. All iLearn courses are free unless marked in red text giving the cost.
- e-Safety Essentials For Schools
The eLearning module will provide you with an overview of the eSafety issues, policies/ agreements, key expectations for schools, incident management and ways to promote the ‘Stay Safe Online message.
- What you should know about Facebook Places
Facebook Places is now available in the UK. This is a new function within Facebook which enables users to broadcast their exact location on a linked street map. While this new application has advantages, it also has safeguarding implications for children and for adults. This FREE module provides guidance fpor school on how to use Facebook Places safely.
eSafety Protecting Your Staff and School - New HCC and Union Guidance
As you are probably aware, there are an increasing number of eSafety incidents in the county involving staff and their use of new technologies, such as social networking (e.g. Facebook). These range from staff being 'friends' with pupils and sharing personal information (often accidentally), to staff publicly commenting on pupils, colleagues or school procedures inappropriately.
In order to provide clear guidance to all adults working with children, the eSafety Multi-agency group has produced a clear summary of professional responsibilities related to the use of ICT. This is endorsed by unions, and has been issued with the expectation that it will reduce eSafety incidents and complaints against staff. Laminated copies have been sent to schools in the postbag. We strongly recommend that this is displayed in a prominent location within your school. Additional copies of the poster can be downloaded from the link below:
If you have any queries about this guidance, or questions about eSafety policy and practice, please contact the Hertfordshire's ICT and eSafety Team on 01438 843086.
Facebook Places
Facebook Places is now available in the UK. This is a new function within Facebook which enables users to broadcast their exact location on a linked street map. This is particularly easy to do if users access their Facebook account from a mobile phone, games console or other mobile device. While this new application has advantages, it also has safeguarding implications for children and for adults. View video & guidance.
Launch of Herts ICT YouTube Channel
The ICT team are pleased to announce the launch of their new YouTube channel called ‘Hertsict’. To help schools promote online safety to the wider community we have started by adding two eSafety videos. The links to the videos can be given to parents/ carers for them to view at home and to encourage attendance at school eSafety sessions. We also have a video promoting 'Exciting ICT in Hertfordshire Schools' and will be adding further videos throughout the coming year.
To view the videos from outside school visit:
Schools with Web Factor 1 will be able to access the videos from within school. Further information about filtering can be found:
Hertfordshire Headteachers' Partnership Conference - eSafety Seminar
Hertfordshire Headteachers' Partnership Conference - Safeguarding and Schools, 15th June 2010.
Presentation from the eSafety seminar:
E-ngage: Online eSafety, Anti-bullying and PSHE Sessions
E-ngage Live offer exciting, interactive learning sessions around Online Safety, Anti-Bullying and PSHE topics, through online collaboration with experts in these fields. For more information:
Ofsted - The Safe Use of New Technologies Report
Pupils in schools that use ‘managed’ online systems have a better knowledge and understanding of how to stay safe when using new technologies, according to a report published by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills.
This report is based on evidence from a small-scale survey carried out between April and July 2009 in 35 maintained schools in England. It evaluates the extent to which the schools taught pupils to adopt safe and responsible practices in using new technologies, and how they achieved this. It also assesses the extent and quality of the training the schools provided for their staff. It responds to the report of the Byron Review, Safer children in a digital world.
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