Helping schools to promote online safety

It was heartening to read Niall Murray’s article "Teenagers promote online safety message in primary schools" (Irish Examiner, June 4) which described transition year students giving their time and energy to help educate younger children on the potential risks of internet usage and how to stay safe.

As with many things, it is imperative that prevention and early education is used to help ensure children know how to use the internet responsibility and where risks occur how to respond. The ISPCC has been campaigning for a number of years on how to keep safe online as part of our “Shield” campaign.

The ISPCC is linking in with schools all over Ireland, assisting them in developing their anti-bullying policies and giving informational group works for parents and students on a number of topics including cyber bullying. The work being done by the transition year students is a crucial element of a community-based response to cyber safety, and developing positive responses to cyber bullying is something the ISPCC has advocated for over the years.

The ISPCC’s “Shield My School” anti-bullying toolkit can download free of charge at www.ispcc.ie/toolkit This will enable schools to review their current policy and help them to develop positive options in response to bullying concerns.

Andrew Jackson

National Anti-bullying Coordinator

ISPCC