E-Safety Information – AI Enabled Scams

9th July 2025L Forster

AI can be an amazing tool for education and creativity – sadly, it’s also become a tool for online scammers  This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide shines a light on the dark side of using AI, including phishing emails, fake voice calls, and influencer-based frauds targeting younger users ⚠️

From deepfake videos to romance scams powered by chatbots  the tactics are getting more convincing – and the consequences more serious. If you’re looking to help children and young people navigate the online world with confidence and caution, this guide offers key insights and practical advice to keep them safe ️

AI isn’t just transforming the way we learn and work, it’s also reshaping the tactics scammers use online. From generating convincing phishing emails to fabricating influencer videos, criminals are using AI to make their scams more convincing than ever. Young people, who often embrace new tech quickly, can be especially vulnerable.

This guide highlights several AI-enabled dangers – including romance scams, deepfake audio and video impersonations, and fake job offers – and explains how to spot and report them. With clear tips for verifying content, thinking critically, and using trusted platforms, it’s essential reading for parents and educators to help young people stay one step ahead of the scammers.

https://nationalcollege.com/

Look at what we’ve grown! Help yourself to our produce – Wed 2nd July at home time  

1st July 2025Emma Adams

This week, why not help yourself to some of the delicious, fresh vegetables we’ve been growing in our allotment? We’ll have a table set up at home time so please pop along and take what you fancy!

We have loved the weekly sessions in our allotment and our Thursday Gardening Club have been busy too! As always, a huge thank you to the fantastic Kaye and Danielle from Williby Rocs CIC.

We’ve loved:

  • sowing our seeds and transplanting them into our raised beds
  • caring for our heat loving plants in the poly tunnel
  • being outdoors building bug hotels and making wild flower seed bombs for our buzzy friends!
  • creating colourful signs and of course our garden maintenance

Y1T Visit to Rising Sun Park

19th June 2025J Twigge

Y1T were very excited to visit Rising Sun Park in Newcastle.

We were able to take part in lots of activities linked to our Science Topics.

First was pond dipping, the children were given a net, identification cards and a tray to see what we could find. We used our nets to see what minibeasts we could find in the pond habitat.  We found blood worms, water boatman, pond skater, water beetles and lots of water louse.

The next habitat was the large meadow.  We were able to create our own pond and minibeasts art using items located on the ground in the meadow, such as leaves, sticks and pine cones.  We are very imaginative!

After we ate our fantastic packed lunched we went to the quarry, which is sheltered to see what sort of minibeasts like to live in dark and damp habitats.  We found spiders, millipedes, woodlice, worms and ever a frog!

Finally we made our own minibeasts from clay.

 

 

 

 

E-Safety Information – YouTube Kids

18th June 2025L Forster

YouTube Kids is designed to be the safer cousin of the regular YouTube app; however, built-in risks continue to pose concerns  From targeted advertising to addictive design, there’s more going on behind the scenes than many realise. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks it all down.

 

Whether it’s inappropriate content slipping past filters or tech-savvy kids bypassing parental settings, YouTube Kids still needs careful oversight. Our guide provides clear, easy-to-follow tips to help adults keep young users protected while still enjoying their favourite videos 

YouTube Kids promises a safe, child-centric experience with colourful visuals, age-filtered content, and robust parental controls. Designed to appeal to younger viewers, the app has grown rapidly, being used by tens of millions of children worldwide. But is it as safe as it seems?

Despite YouTube Kids’ safeguards, reports have highlighted worrying issues, such as inappropriate content slipping through filters, subtle advertising, and the use of manipulative design to keep children engaged. Our guide explores how to navigate these pitfalls, offering practical advice for making sure children get the most from the platform – without the risks.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Generative AI Safety

11th June 2025L Forster

Generative AI can be a brilliant tool for creativity and learning  – but it’s not without its hazards. With 3 in 4 pupils now using generative AI (up from just 2 in 5 last year!), it’s more important than ever for parents and educators to understand the risks ⚡

This week’s free #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks down the key safety concerns around generative AI tools and offers expert advice for keeping young users safe. From encouraging critical thinking to safeguarding their privacy, find out how to help children use AI safely and smartly 

The remarkable growth of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has opened up exciting new opportunities for young learners. Used wisely, AI can be a powerful ally in boosting creativity, learning and problem-solving skills. However, without proper guidance, young people may stumble into challenges including inaccurate information, data security risks, and a growing reliance on AI over their own critical thinking.

From setting clear usage boundaries to teaching digital hygiene and promoting independent thought, this guide offers parents and educators practical advice on the safe, positive use of AI. With the right understanding and guidance, you can ensure that generative AI becomes a positive influence, rather than a potential pitfall in young people’s digital lives.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Emojis

4th June 2025L Forster

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words and when it comes to emojis, that’s often true  But in the wrong context, these innocent-seeming icons can take on a whole new meaning, sometimes hinting at things that aren’t as light-hearted as they appear.

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks down some of the slang and symbols young people use online and explains how some could be masking real issues, from bullying and exclusion to harmful behaviours. With our handy cheat sheet and top tips, adults can keep pace with this ever-changing digital language ✨

Emojis aren’t just digital decoration — they’re often used as a coded language that young people use to express identity, humour and emotion. Without context, they can easily be misunderstood by adults, leading to confusion or missed signals. Some emojis may even mask risky behaviours or emotional struggles.

This guide helps decode this ever-evolving language, empowering parents and educators to have more open, informed conversations with the children in their care. It also highlights the meaning of some common emojis and offers practical tips for staying clued-in without snooping or suspicion.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Violent Content Online

21st May 2025L Forster

Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. Violent content online isn’t just something young people are occasionally stumbling across – in many cases, it’s becoming a routine part of their digital world . From fights  and stabbings ️ to toxic ideologies ☣️, disturbing videos are often just a click away on social media or group chats. Many children don’t go looking for this material, it finds them via algorithms or peer sharing.

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights the unseen risks this poses to children’s mental health , sense of safety ️, and social behaviours. With insights from a leading expert ‍, it offers practical ways for parents and educators to respond with empathy  and support  – not punishment or panic .

The guide outlines key concerns, including the mental toll of repeated exposure, shifts in behaviour, and the worrying normalisation of harmful ideologies. It also explains how such content can escalate from screen to street, and why some young people may feel pressured to share or even create violent media themselves.

Year 3 art club’s super shaking dogs!

19th May 2025ajennings

Year 3 art club have been inspired by artist, Iris Scott and her “Shakin’ wet dogs” collection. They created their own amazing interpretations of the art work using finger painting techniques, layering colour to create texture. Finally, they used a paintbrush to add splashes of blues and greens showing the water flying from the dog’s fur.

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The children were so proud of their finished pieces of work!

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