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.

Harton Primary Puzzlers Make History with Innovation Award Win

7th May 2025R Errington

We are incredibly proud of our 2024-2025 Harton Primary Puzzlers team, who represented the borough at the First Lego League national competition in Harrogate on Saturday 3rd May. Throughout the day, the children were commended for their enthusiasm, brilliant teamwork and excellent communication! They wowed the judges as well as other competitors with their ground-breaking project idea of the Tyne Cleanstream bubble barrier, which is designed to gently redirect plastic into a container unit using a curtain of bubbles. During the award ceremony, the Harton Primary Puzzlers were announced as the first place winners for the Innovation Project  Award for going above and beyond with their idea and their research! The Puzzlers are the first team in South Tyneside to have received one of the top awards at the national competition!

Check out a lovely article from ICT in Schools about their brilliant achievement, including their excellent work on the robot game:

https://ictinschools.org/harton-primary-puzzlers-shine-at-first-lego-league-national-finals/

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Christian Foley Visit

2nd May 2025P Mullea

This week we were lucky enough to have a visit from the writer, rapper and teaching sensation- Christian Foley.

Christian made a big first impression on the children, wowing us with his freestyling skills in a whole school assembly. The children loved his performance and joined in with his nursery grimes and other freestyles.

He then worked with all children from Reception to Year 6 in workshops to develop their poetry skills. The children got to hear stories that Christian has written and also come up with their own ideas.

It has been amazing to see how inspired the children have been following this visit and I know they enjoyed it.

His books can be purchased online.

If you want to know more about Christian Foley please look at his website https://www.christianfoley.co.uk/ 

 

OPAL UPDATE

28th April 2025Charlotte Kirkham

During the Easter break, some of our amazingly talented staff have been in and added more wonderful areas for the children to play with. The children now have a mud kitchen, a water area, a dinosaur digging area and a hill slide! We can’t wait to see what they do and make in these new areas.

We kindly ask parents to ensure children do not play in these areas at home time, as the equipment and areas need to be supervised by staff.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

OPAL UPDATE!

11th April 2025Charlotte Kirkham

Well… we have decided to make some changes and add even more zones to make more amazing opportunities for the children to play.

One of those amazing zones will be a Mud Kitchen! If you have any of the following we would appreciate any donations that you have:

  • Whisks
  • Wooden spoons
  • Mixing bowls
  • Old pots and pans
  • Plastic funnel
  • Mixing bowls

We are also adding a water area, we are expecting some serious splashing, mixing and getting just that little bit wet!

We think it would be a great idea if you could send a spare change of clothing if you know they like getting wet.

Thank you for your continued support.

E-Safety Information – Instagram

3rd April 2025L Forster

Instagram  remains one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, especially among teens – used by around 70% of 13 to 17-year-olds.

It may be one of the most familiar social media names around but features like AI-powered chatbots and Threads integration have added fresh challenges for families and schools to navigate From worrying livestreams to issues like social exclusion and fear of missing out, Instagram isn’t just about photos. As the platform evolves, so too must the conversations we have with young people about how they use it 

Our latest #WakeUpWednesday guide outlines what these new features involve, the possible risks they bring and how to make the most of Instagram’s parental controls to keep children safe online. ️

Instagram remains a go-to app for teens, with its endless stream of photos, videos, and ‘Stories’ keeping young users constantly connected. From influencer content to live broadcasts, the platform is packed with evolving features that can feel fun and engaging – but can also raise some serious concerns around screen time, online pressures and exposure to inappropriate content.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators up-to-date knowledge on the risks and safety tips for this latest version of Instagram.

https://nationalcollege.com/