Online Safety

At Thomas A Becket Junior School, fostering a secure online environment and imparting essential e-safety skills to all our children is paramount. We focus on teaching e-safety thoroughly through a varied approach that combines interactive lessons, engaging activities and age-appropriate discussions. Our curriculum not only addresses the potential risks associated with online activities, but also emphasises the cultivation of responsible digital citizenship. By incorporating real-world scenarios and practical guidance, we empower our children to make informed decisions, navigate the digital landscape responsibly and respond effectively to online challenges. We make sure the children gain practical skills, keeping themselves and others safe online. Our approach nurtures a lasting understanding of e-safety, preparing TAB children to navigate the digital world confidently and responsibly.

Below is our e-safety overview and while we explicitly teach e-safety within our computing curriculum, it is essential to note that this crucial aspect is not confined solely to these lessons or this subject. Our commitment to promoting online safety extends across the curriculum, including Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE). This approach ensures that the principles of responsible digital citizenship and safe online practices are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum. By addressing e-safety in diverse lessons, we aim to provide the children with a well-rounded understanding, emphasising the importance of navigating the digital landscape responsibly in all aspects of their education and lives.

e safety overview.pdf

Smartphone-Free and Smartwatch-Free Policy

Starting from the Spring term (5th January 2026), TAB Junior will be implementing a smartphone-free and smartwatch-free policy.

While smartphones can be valuable tools for adults, an increasing body of research highlights the negative impact of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health, wellbeing and development, as well as the potential exposure to harmful and dangerous content. Consequently, these devices are often incompatible with ensuring child safety. As a school we prioritise learning, behaviour and wellbeing, there are increasing concerns that smartphones and smartwatches are detrimental to all of these.

Children and young people’s use of smartphones is considered a safeguarding issue and as a school we are acting in the children’s best interests to protect them by not allowing them onsite.

Frequently-Asked Questions

My child walks to/from school alone; how will they be able to contact me in an

emergency?

Children in year 5 and 6 may bring a simple mobile phone (calls and text only) to school. As in our current mobile guidance these phones will be turned off at entrance to school site and kept out of sight until children leave school site at the end of the day.

How will I contact my child during the day?

Our current policy does not allow children to have access to phones during the day, so this

will not change. Any communication should be via the school office.

What if my child needs their phone for medical reasons?

There will, of course, be appropriate exceptions for medical devices. Please speak to the

school to discuss this.

I like to be able to track my child; how will I be able to do this?

Many parents like the reassurance of knowing where their child is. In most situations, clear routines around pick-up times and agreed routes are usually enough. If you feel you need more detailed tracking, there are simple options that don’t require a smartphone, such as GPS watches or small tracking devices like AirTags.

What alternative phones or products can I use instead of a smartphone?

You can find up-to-date information about alternative products via the Smartphone Free

Childhood website page at https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/alternatives

Where can I find further information about the use of smartphones?

You can find out more from Smartphone Free Childhood website: https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/

What is the difference between a smartwatch and a fitness watch?

A smartwatch is designed to work like an extension of a mobile phone — it can show notifications, allow calls or messages, run apps, and provide general health tracking.

A fitness watch, is mainly designed for exercise and health monitoring. It tracks things like heart rate, steps, sleep and workouts, usually has a longer battery life, and has very limited or no phone-style features. Children are allowed to wear a fitness watch in school.