Online Safety – Advice for Parents and Carers

At Prospect Training Services (PTS) we have a dedicated safeguarding team who are fully trained in online safety; this helps us to provide support and an open-door policy for our learners should they experience any of the dangers that the online world can pose to them. We also provide a comprehensive Enrichment Programme (Skills for Life) to all learners, which includes online safety sessions.

As parents and carers, it is increasingly difficult to keep up with the latest apps and websites that young people are using. Young people are spending more time online, which can be a real concern if we don't educate ourselves on the risks to them! This is why PTS feels it is important to support you as parents/carers and provide you with the knowledge and understanding to keep your young people safe.

Please see the useful tips and resources below:

• Keep an open dialogue with your young person and show an interest in what they are doing online; it is important to have open and honest conversations with them. This will make them feel more confident to tell you when things have gone wrong.
• Be responsible with how you behave online, keep yourself safe and set good examples on privacy and what is appropriate to share; you are their role model.
• Use age-related security measures; ensure you use parental controls and follow the guidelines and recommendations for individual sites. They are usually age restricted for a good reason.
• Explore and understand the apps they are using, know how they work, what activities can be carried out and who uses these apps.
• If things go wrong, do not judge, be supportive to your young person and know where to report things. There are some useful websites listed below; make yourself familiar with them.
• Contact PTS for help and advice; our trained staff will be happy to help.

If you are a learner or a parent/carer and you have a safeguarding concern that you'd like support with, please contact the Safeguarding Team on 01452 300255 or katew@ptsyouth.co.uk.