Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
We have received a lot of questions about the increasingly popular app 'Houseparty' along with some worrying stories where children have ended up in unwanted situations where strangers have joined their chats.
With this in mind we are putting this post out in the hope that it will better enable parents to ensure that their children and indeed themselves stay safe and un-compromised while using the app.
Houseparty has been around since 2016 and has always been popular with teenagers. The current situation has caused the use of the app to increase dramatically. The user base has changed to include first time adult users and younger children trying to stay in touch with friends.
When you sign up to Houseparty you are prompted to link it to all of your contacts, both on your device and contacts from Facebook and Snapchat. Once linked the app recognises any contacts that are already signed up to Houseparty.
When you start the app you are then shown by default as being 'in the house' i.e. online. Any of your contacts can then invite you to join a live chat.
If you push the home screen up you will see any ongoing 'House Parties' (group chats) that your contacts are involved in. This process applies to everyone, so, if you are in a chat with 3 friends for example, anyone of their contacts that see the chat is happening can then 'drop in'. This is obviously where a risk presents itself. Literally anyone could enter the chat so it could be someones boss or worse still, a person looking to exploit children.
If you push the home screen to the side you can then access any private video messages someone may have sent you. There is even a facility for people to enter the chat in 'Sneak' mode so you wouldn't know they were there.
If you are using this app or more importantly, letting your children use it, you should think about taking some simple measures to prevent uninvited guests crashing the party.
When using the app you will see an 'UNLOCKED PADLOCK' at the bottom of the screen.
Once you have added the people you want in an active chat you should then press this padlock. The chat will then be locked to any new visitors. Any of the people in the 'party' can lock the chat. What you don't want, is a bad person that has entered a chat locking it therefore stopping a parent dropping in and seeing what is going on.
Also at the bottom of the chat stream you have THREE DOTS in the bottom left corner. If you click on these you have an option to disable your webcam.
The other button to the bottom right of the chat stream which is a MICROPHONE can be pressed to turn off the active mic.
As long as you set up a group chat and then immediately lock it you should be okay. Please make sure that any children using it realise it is very easy for any user to screen capture them during the chat, so you need to make sure they are appropriately dressed.
Every Monday, we will update you with some new resources to continue your home learning journey.
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/home-learning-hub
Each day you'll find a new set of daily activities to get involved with. Qualified Twinkl teachers will provide book readings, live lessons, positive news updates and more. We'll be bringing you activities from our partners too, to help fill your days and offer some much-needed variety.
Activities will be listed the day before - giving you enough time to get prepped and set up for the next day's learning.
Find your own approach. Don't worry about recreating school at home. But - if you're looking for ideas, or a way of adding a bit of routine into your day, you'll find it here
To help with Reading there is the free app below.
https://www.fonetti.com/promo/Corona-Kindness-efspt
The app is called Fonetti and is the worlds first listening book. Please follow the link.
Watch this space every Monday, for new ideas and resources to support your children.
If you would like some more support with home learning, please visit the website below:
There is also a new Facebook group, with ideas and activities:
I'm at home with the kids. Get me out of here.
Please keep checking the website for home learning resources and ideas.
8 steps to keep your child safe online this month
1. Explore together: Ask your child to show you their favourite websites and apps and what they do on them. Listen, show interest and encourage them to teach you the basics of the site or app.
2. Chat little and often about online safety: If you’re introducing them to new learning websites and apps while school is closed, take the opportunity to talk to them about how to stay safe on these services and in general. Ask if anything ever worries them while they’re online. Make sure they know that if they ever feel worried, they can get help by talking to you or another adult they trust.
3. Help your child identify trusted adults who can help them if they are worried: This includes you and other adults at home, as well as adults from wider family, school or other support services who they are able to contact at this time. Encourage them to draw a picture or write a list of their trusted adults.
4. Be non-judgemental: Explain that you would never blame them for anything that might happen online, and you will always give them calm, loving support.
5. Supervise their online activity: Keep the devices your child uses in communal areas of the house such as in the living room or kitchen where an adult is able to supervise. Children of this age should not access the internet unsupervised in private spaces, such as alone in a bedroom or bathroom.
6. Talk about how their online actions affect others: If your child is engaging with others online, remind them to consider how someone else might feel before they post or share something. If they are considering sharing a photo/video of somebody else, they should always ask permission first.
7. Use ‘SafeSearch’: Most web search engines will have a ‘SafeSearch’ function, which will allow you to limit the content your child can access whilst online. Look out for the ‘Settings’ button on your web browser homepage, which is often shaped like a small cog.
8. Parental controls: Use the parental controls available on your home broadband and all internet enabled devices in your home. You can find out more about how to use parental controls by visiting your broadband provider’s website.
Support your child with films and activities from Thinkuknow
Thinkuknow films and games are a great way to start and continue chats about online safety.
4-7s Jessie & Friends cartoons
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/jessie-and-friends-videos/
A three-episode animated series which helps keep 4-7s safe online. It explores three popular online activities: watching videos, sharing pictures, and online gaming.
If you’re worried that a child is at risk of harm online, you should call the police. Children can make a report to CEOP at https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/.
Other recommended resources
Parent Info – Expert information for parents about digital family life www.parentinfo.org.
NSPCC Net Aware – Provides reviews and guidance on the most popular social networks, apps and games that children use.
Yesterday, the Government introduced new guidance on whole household isolation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
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The symptoms are:
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The full stay at home guidance for households with these symptoms can be found here:
The advice around self-isolation has changed, for clarity, the new advice around self-isolation is as follows:
Well done Orange Class! You have won Buddy Bear for the week 9th - 13th March! Well done