E-Safety Information – Bluesky

26th March 2025L Forster

Bluesky social app  is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. It’s more than doubled its user numbers in the past six months alone, from 14.5 million in October 2024 to 32 million at present. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling️, cyberbullying  and the spread of misinformation❌

 

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format ️– offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

Bluesky is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling, cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation.

We’ve created this free guide, offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

https://nationalcollege.com/

 

E-Safety Information – Streamers

19th March 2025L Forster

You may already know that livestreaming plays a major role in children’s entertainment, with a wide range of personalities influencing young viewers in both positive and negative ways. While watching streamers can be fun, it also comes with significant risks, including misinformation,  financial harms, and ⚠️ inappropriate content.

Popular streaming platform Twitch has over 2.5 million viewers at any given time, which is why it’s more important than ever to stay informed. This week’s guide , also available as a podcast , explores the potential dangers of livestreaming and offers essential insights to help you protect the children in your care.

Live Streaming is now a major part of children’s entertainment, evolving from gamers sharing screens into a booming industry with diverse personalities. While watching streamers can be entertaining, it comes with no small number of risks for children, such as misinformation, negative influences, and inappropriate content. With over 2.5 million viewers on Twitch – the current most popular streaming platform – at any one time, this guide highlights the potential dangers associated with watching livestreams and the importance of staying informed.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – to provide parents and educators everything they need to know about streamers and how to keep children protected.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Roblox

12th March 2025L Forster

Online multiplayer games like Roblox are enjoyed by millions across the world and can be a great way for friends to socialise; however, they can also expose young people to variety of potential harms. Roblox is a multi-platform game that enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and put younger players at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, it’s important to be aware of other risk factors, such as in-game purchases and potential scams that can put young people at risk financially.  We’ve created this week’s free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators expert advice about what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

Whilst they can be a great way for friends to socialise, online games like Roblox that allow multiplayer gameplay with strangers are always fraught with a variety of dangers that can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content. Roblox enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and potentially put young people at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, other factors such as in-game purchases and potential scams can also pose a financial risk. It’s important that parents and educators remain aware of the risks associated with this popular title and how it can be used safely. This free guide – also available in podcast format – offers parents and educators expert advice on what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

https://nationalcollege.com/

Nursery Open Evening!

12th March 2025Amy Smith

Exciting news! Come along to our nursery open evening! 

THURSDAY 10TH APRIL 2025

4-5PM

We have FREE 15 and 30 hour nursery places for 3 year olds available for September 2025.

Drop into our open evening anytime between 4-5pm and see what our nursery has to offer you and your child.

Our nursery is equipped with a large indoor and outdoor learning place, as well as a brand new sensory room!

All hours are led by a fully qualified teacher.

If you require more information please contact the school office on 0191 4562150.

We look forward to welcoming you to our nursery.

 

 

Parents’ Evening Booking – 10th and 17th March

21st February 2025L Forster

To book an appointment for your child, click on the name of their teacher – for years 4, 5 and 6 please select the teacher your child has on a morning for literacy and numeracy. At the bottom of the window, click ‘Jump to the next available date‘ and choose either the 10th or 17th of March and select the available time you would like to see the teacher and fill in the fields displayed.

Please make sure that your device it set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to avoid confusion over timings of appointment.

The school are unable to book appointments. Please only contact the school to cancel appointments that are made by mistake or if you are unable to attend.

Visual references of steps:

Links to booking system:

Nursery
Miss Hamilton Miss Smith
Reception
Mrs Moore Miss Patterson Mrs Wilkinson
Year 1
Mrs Twigg Mrs Beattie Miss Mullea
Year 2
Mrs Adams Mrs Jones Mrs Langley
Year 3
Miss Maffin Mrs Hawkins Mrs Pottinger/Mrs Whitfield
Year 4
Mrs Clark Mrs Wright Mrs Davis Mr Forster
Year 5
Mrs Trotter Miss Errington Miss Booth Mr Steadman
Year 6
Mrs Fawkes Mr Dawson Mr Thompson Mrs Allen

OPAL Update

20th February 2025C Allen

This week we have launched the first phase of OPAL. I think that judging by the smiles and comments from the children, they are enjoying it. We have seen some lovely examples of imaginative play, problem solving, sharing, helping and some particularly amazing tidying-up!

It has been so nice to see all ages playing together and we hope there is something out there that everyone enjoys playing with. There are more activities and equipment on the way – along with lots of suggestions and requests from the children.

Thank you for all of your help and support as we work to establish OPAL and create better play opportunities for all of our children.

Half Term activities – South Tyneside Libraries

19th February 2025D Fawkes

Please see the links for a range of children’s activities that are happening in South Tyneside Libraries during February Half Term.

Board Games | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Lego Time | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Fab Lab – design your own Chinese New Year themed coaster or door hanger | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Wonderbox Workshops by Cabinet of Curiosity | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

African Drumming Sessions for Children | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

E-Safety Information – Whatsapp

19th February 2025L Forster

According to Ofcom’s most recent Media Use and Attitudes Report, roughly 55% of 3-17-year-olds in the UK are using WhatsApp as their primary messaging service  Not only does that make WhatsApp the most popular messaging platform among children and young people in the UK; it also means that of the app’s approximately three billion users, over seven million of them are British youngsters – keeping in touch with friends and family, but also being exposed to its various risks ⚠️

 

As parents and educators, it’s our responsibility to stay up-to-date on the safety concerns around this highly popular app, and know how to protect children and young people who are on the platform ️ That’s why we’ve put together this expert-led free guide, breaking down WhatsApp’s most prominent risks and advising you on how best to safeguard the app’s younger users.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps available and, as of 2024, has been made accessible to users as young as thirteen. With end-to-end encryption preventing even the platform itself from viewing any messages that users send on it, this app has been regularly utilised by those looking to keep their conversations private.

Unfortunately, the service poses several risks to its younger users – from misinformation and bullying to potential criminal exploitation – and it’s vital that parents and educators understand these concerns and how to address them. This free guide delves into the online safety risks of WhatsApp and offers expert advice on how to safeguard any young people who use the platform.

Year 1 visit to Seven Stories

11th February 2025J Twigge

As part of our Literacy this half term Year 1 have been reading Hansel and Gretel.  We visited Seven Stories in Newcastle to explore Traditional Tales.

We journeyed deep into enchanted woods to discover how stories are crafted to captivate and inspire. We carried out a workshop to unravel the secrets of story structure and unleash  creativity to piece together a tornado of tangled tales.

This was inspired by a host of traditional tales from our collection of work including Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and much more!

We had a great day exploring, we were also able to see the Tiger Who Came to Tea Exhibition with story and Mog, the forgetful cat.

That History Bloke visits Year 1

7th February 2025P Mullea

As part of our History topic of toys from the past, Year One had a visit from That History Bloke! Richard came to speak to us about life in Victorian times- we learned lots and looked at lots of artefacts from Victorian times. We tused our observation skills to try and guess what each artefact was for. Then we  got the chance to play with some Victorian toys!

We were excited to see the kind of things children in those times would have played with, and thought carefully about how things have changed. It was fascinating and lots of fun.