e-Safety for parents case study: Wymondley JMI School

E-Safety Evening Assembly for Parents - Wymondley JMI School, Hertfordshire

Getting parents and carers into school can be a tricky business at the best of times and getting them in for an E-Safety session is even more difficult. Some parents are very techie and therefore think that they have it all covered, whilst others are put off by the very thought of anything to do with computers and technology. Throw in a spot of bad weather, dark evenings or something good on the telly and the chances of getting anyone to attend plummets!  But there are things that we can do that move the odds of reasonable attendance back in our favour.

Last term, Wymondley offered an E-Safety session for parents and were rewarded with a turnout of two! Disappointed Alison (the Head), Alison (the ICT technician) and Kathy (E2BN) decided that a different approach was needed. What was required was a session that would encourage or oblige parents to pitch up at the appointed time. Now, parents love to see their offspring perform and will turn out en masse to carol concerts, school plays, and the like, so we decided to do a special Safer Internet Evening Assembly for Parents. The session would be based on Kathy's usual Parents’ Session but with the introduction provided by the Class 4 (Year 5 and 6 pupils)

Pupil E-Safety Drama

Kathy's E-Safety presentations for parents always start with a positive look at the use of technology to set the context. She show's the first 35 seconds of CEOP’s “Keeping Up With The Jones”, does a quick quiz asking parents to guess what year various technologies were invented and then gets them to identify technologies and apps that they or their children use and enjoy.

At Wymondley, the children set the context with two short dramas. In the first they performed short scenarios to show how they use technology; chatting to a relative in Australia via Skype, using the Internet to do some research for homework, playing online games, texting a friend... In the second drama the children performed ‘Celebrity Millionaire’ using the 14 day trial of ‘Millionaire for Schools’. ‘Chris Tarrant’ quizzed a range of celebs including ‘Rihanna’ and ‘Simon Cowell’ on their knowledge of Internet safety. And the parents loved it!

“After such a disappointing first attempt to engage our parents, this proved to be a really successful event. The children were really excited as most of the drama was their own improvisation and they do love an audience!” Alison Emmerson, Head Teacher.

Their part done, the children retired to the IT suite whilst Kathy delivered the rest of the session to a packed house! Well, ok - 25 parents and carers but that was a parent or carer for every Class 4 pupil and 23 more parents than at the first attempt!

"Kathy's presentation was well received by the parents and there was a buzz in the playground the next day as parents shared their new knowledge!" Alison Emmerson, Head Teacher

"I found the evening informative and useful. The presenter was approachable and friendly and explained things in a parent friendly way that was easy to understand. Thank you. I now feel more competent of keeping my children safe online and being able to talk to them about this subject" Jocelyn Eldridge, Parent

"It was a really informative evening with lots of practical tips. I strongly urge all parents to attend in the future." Lucy Ramsden, Parent

Want to replicate this in your own school?

  • Book Kathy to do a parents’ session (they are free if you hold an E-Safety session for staff on the same day)
  • Decide what time of day will allow most parents to attend – after they have dropped off the children in the morning, the hour before pick up, or later in the evening.
  • Advertise the session well in advance using posters, school newsletter and social media if you use it.
  • Arrange supervision for the performing children once they have completed their drama.
  • Consider running a crèche for any other children that parents/carers need to bring with them.
  • Work out a short drama with your pupils on the positive uses of the Internet and technology involving as many pupils as possible. You might want to focus on a key year group.
  • A fortnight before the event, download the 14 day free trial of Millionaire for Schools and create your own E-Safety quiz. Work out a short Celebrity Millionaire sketch with pupils. Remember to appoint one or two pupils to the role of ‘phone a friend’ and don’t forget that your celebs can always ask the audience (the parents) on the night for help with the trickier answers.
  • And the offer of tea and cake never put anyone off attending an event!