Alison, our Education Officer, takes a look back at how Childnet’s visits with schools across the UK have had a lasting impact over the years.
How long has Childnet been visiting schools as part of our education programme?
At Childnet, we’ve been running school visits for more than 10 years, and we all really enjoy doing them! Our school visits are a really great way to engage learners in online safety, and to reinforce key online safety messages they hear in school.
I’ve been an Education Officer at Childnet for the past year. I’ve loved travelling to different schools and settings around the country, working with a massive range of young people, their parents and carers, and the professionals who work with them. I also love getting involved in the fantastic events Childnet co-ordinate, like Safer Internet Day and the Childnet Film Competition.
What happens on a Childnet school visit?
On a Childnet school visit, one of our Education Officers will present online safety assemblies to learners anywhere between the ages of three and eighteen. Sessions for younger Primary school learners follow the exciting story of Salma the Seal as she goes online, while sessions for older learners include activities on lots of different topics, including online relationships, information, and sharing.
Our sessions are designed to be empowering and encourage young people to think of solutions to a range of situations similar to ones they may face themselves, while also giving them practical tips to support them when they go online.
What is your favourite memory from your school visits over the years?
I have so many fun memories from school visits, it’s hard to pick just one! One of my favourite memories is definitely hearing a class of reception students practicing singing and dancing to the Salma the Seal song in their break time after hearing the story! It was really heartwarming to hear and showed how our advice sticks with them!
What do young people gain from these visits?
For lots of the young people we talk to our sessions really help them build their confidence around using the internet safely. I remember a young boy in one school telling me that he usually found the internet a ‘scary and confusing place’, but that our session had made him feel a lot better about going online now that he knew how to do it safely and what to do if he was worried about anything.
Youth voice and young people’s ideas are at the centre of everything we do at Childnet, including our school presentations. Every presentation offers plenty of opportunities for young people to discuss online safety issues, both with each other and with us.
We update our presentations frequently based on the feedback we hear from learners in sessions, and we often take advice from our wonderful Youth Advisory Board when we are considering changes to content. This could be as simple as changing the design of a presentation to make it more engaging, or as in depth as reviewing entire sections of material to make sure that they are relevant, useful and interesting for our audiences.
What positive impact do these education visits have?
Our education visits are designed to support and empower young people to use the internet in a safe way, while exploring all the great opportunities and experiences the online world can offer!
Each presentation is filled with discussion-based activities that we develop using knowledge and feedback from young people. This helps us to make sure that learners are getting the most up-to-date and relevant advice and support in our sessions.
As well as discussion and scenario-based activities, we include practical tips learners can take away with them to use independently and we mention the helplines and resources that support young people who are worried and struggling.
We always highlight the importance of talking openly and honestly about life online, and the power of communication to make the internet a great and safe place.
Who can book a visit with Childnet?
Anyone that works with a group of young people can book a visit! That includes schools, youth groups, arts, drama or sports clubs or any other youth setting!
At Childnet we never want cost to be a barrier preventing young people from accessing important online safety messages.
If your school or youth setting is interested in booking a visit, but working with a limited budget, please get in touch and we will work hard to find a way to work with you.
How do I book a school visit?
To make a booking complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch!
