Our children are growing up with very different influences and experiences from those of many parents. For parents, this can be daunting and keeping up with teenage fads and fashions is exhausting.
This page aims to provide you with information and links to further sources of advice to help you keep up with your children during this exciting, and formative, period of their lives.
Online Safety
Teenagers now spend more time playing and socialising online than watching television. While they may seem like online experts, they still need support from those with greater life experience, in the same way as they do in other areas of their life.
The following links will help parents to understand the terminology, and the risks. They also provide resources to help you support your child in their life online
Esafety Guidance |
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| Parent Zone | Information to help families to deal with the many difficulties that are thrown up by the pace of technological change. |
| Thinkuknow: parents | The latest information to help parents understand the internet and realise what the risks are, so that they can support their children's internet use |
| Thinkuknow: students | The latest information on the sites teenagers like to visit, mobiles and new technology |
| Google family safety center | Google's informative safety centre including simple step by step guides |
| ConnectSafely |
Informative website promoting the safe use of the web to connect with others. It contains guides for parents on mobile phones, Instagram and Snapchat. |
Parental ControlsAt school, we filter all internet content so that students are safe at school. Parents can do the same at home by ensuring that their computers, laptops and other devices with internet access (like mobile phones and tablets) are all fitted with parental controls. Free downloadable versions can be found online, or by contacting your internet service provider (such as BT, Talk Talk, Sky etc) for more information. You can also set parental controls on search engines, YouTube accounts, games consoles and your child's mobile phone: |
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| Xbox | Guidance on setting parental controls on Xbox 360 and Xbox One |
| PlayStation | Guidance on setting parental controls on PlayStation4, PlayStation3 and PlayStation Vita |
| Nintendo | Guidance on setting parental controls on Wii and DS |
| Mobile phones | Ofcom website containing further links to mobile providers' online safety information |
Private Fostering
Most children spend some time staying with friends and relatives at some time during their childhood. However, for some children these arrangements can be longer term. If a child aged under 16 years (or under 18 years if they are disabled) goes to stay with people who are not related to them for 28 days or more, this is known as a Private Fostering Arrangement and special rules apply.
If you think this applies to you, click here to download a leaflet that explains more, and provides information on the assistance available for such circumstances. You can also visit the Derbyshire County Council website for information, and see the school's Private Fostering Policy on the Policies and Procedures page for details on the school's responsibilities towards students in private fostering arrangements.