Safer Internet Day 2017
Hwb Online Safety Zone Launched
The Welsh Government celebrated Safer Internet Day by bringing together educators and safeguarding professionals to launch a new section of the Hwb Educational Resource site dedicated to activities for bringing internet safety to life in the classroom. Lynne Neagle AM introduced the event on behalf of the Children, Young People and Education Committee before passing over to Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams AM.
The All Wales School Liaison Core Programme was pleased to be able to send safety education coordinators from each of our four Forces to be updated on the latest developments in safeguarding education.
Celebrating Pupil Contributions
Pupils from shortlisted schools were there to receive awards for their winning entries to the launch competition.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Kirsty Williams presented awards to pupils who had contributed winning entries to the launch competition.
The national winner is Isabel Bates from Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive in Beddau. The design is reminiscent of train and metro maps, with brightly coloured lines connecting and interconnecting to show the complex relationship between online behaviours and online safety.
Isabel’s entry will now become the national logo for Hwb’s Online Safety Zone.
Importance of Young People’s Rights
Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, addressed the crowd, calling for children’s rights to be placed at the heart of the Welsh curriculum, she also praising the work she has seen to bring safety education to pupils across Wales.
By Learners, For Learners
Examples of best practice were presented by Kellie Williams of North Wales School Effectiveness & Improvement Service. Thank you to Ysgol Cornist Park for providing an excellent portfolio of pupil-led work on Internet safety. A variety of activities seem to have motivated the youngsters to keep a long-term focus on education and awareness, culminating in a school awards ceremony and leading the school towards a new behaviour policy which covers classroom, playground and online behaviour on an equal footing.
UK Safer Internet Centre
Director of UK Safer Internet Centre, David Wright, gave a wide overview of the work done across the country to promote online safety – both on Safer Internet Day and beyond.
Partnership and Progress
Clear throughout the event was the positive work that is going on in safeguarding our children, from the UK and Welsh Government through to schools, Police forces, local authorities and resources for parents at home.