Internet Safety

Internet Safety

Some groups of children are potentially more vulnerable and more at risk than others when using ICT. These can include children with emotional or behavioural difficulties, learning difficulties, and other complex needs, as well as those whose English is an additional language, and looked after children.

As with all children, pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) can use the internet in educational, creative, empowering and fun ways. Some of our pupils may be particularly vulnerable to e-safety risks.

For example:

• Children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder may make literal interpretations of content, which will affect how they respond.
• Some children may not understand much of the terminology due to language delays or disorders.
• Some children with complex needs do not understand the concept of friendship, and therefore trust everyone implicitly. They do not know how to make judgements about what is safe information to share. This leads to confusion about why you should not trust others on the internet.
• There is also growing concern around cyberbullying. We need to remember that some children with SEN or disabilities may be vulnerable to being bullied through the internet, or not recognise that they are being bullied.
• In addition, some children may not appreciate how their own online behaviour may be seen by someone else as bullying.