Hartlepool primary school recognised for its commitment to helping pupils stay safe online

West View Primary School has received a National Online Safety Certified School Accreditation for its whole-school approach to protecting children in the online world.

Acting headteacher Lauren Furness said: “We are so proud to have received the National Online Safety Certified School Accreditation as it reflects our whole school community approach to protecting children in an online world.

“It demonstrates our commitment to ongoing professional development for all stakeholders – including our parents and carers – so that we can all safeguard children online wherever they are.

“Moving forward, we will continue to utilise our National Online Safety package for all stakeholders and we hope to encourage other schools to join us in this.

"We will be utilising more of the resources across school and we will be further promoting and celebrating both staff and parental engagement with this.”

The school in Davison Drive achieved the accreditation after successfully completing a comprehensive training programme by award-winning provider National Online Safety.

They equip school leaders, staff, parents and pupils with the knowledge to understand the dangers of the internet by adopting a whole-school approach to online safety and a belief that safeguarding children online does not stop at the school gates.

Its CPD-accredited courses (Continuing Professional Development) and educational resources support UK schools in educating their whole school community in online safety and making the internet a safer place for children.

James Southworth, co-founder of National Online Safety, said: “Congratulations to everyone at West View Primary School on becoming a National Online Safety Certified School.

"By completing our training programme, the school has shown its strong commitment to implementing an effective whole-school approach to online safety.

“It can be increasingly difficult for schools and parents to stay ahead of online threats and ensure both children and staff are safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material.

“We arm schools with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and how best to react to any problems.”

The courses also meet the latest Department for Education guidance including the revised Keeping Children Safe in Education advice.

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on Pools and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.