iParent—where parents can learn about the digital environment and keep updated on their children’s technology use.

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What is ORM and why is it important?

Online Reputation Management (ORM) is about understanding and managing your digital footprint (everything that can be seen or read about your school online). You need to know it all – the positives and the negatives – and to create lots of the positives yourself with a visible and active online presence (including social media).

Few parents will apply for a school place without first ‘googling’ the school, and the Ofsted pre-inspection check
includes monitoring what is being said online (Mumsnet is a favourite). So whether a staff member or an external
agency is tasked with monitoring your footprint, you and your colleagues need to know!

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Social media is a great way to share with friends and people all over the world. It can be a lot of fun and there are so many apps and tools to allow ourselves to be creative. We do need to be careful though, and aware there are many people, adults and children who also use social media and may want to harm or upset us.

NSPCC Resource

It may feel awkward, but it's important to explain to children the risks of sexting, how to stay safe and remind them that they can talk to you if something ever makes them feel scared or uncomfortable.

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Natasha MacBryde was a beautiful, clever girl hoping to be a vet or paediatrician, who seemed perfectly happy at school until a few months after she turned 15, when she suddenly wanted to dye her hair brown.

Her mother Jane discovered, over the next few weeks, that Tasha (as the family called her) had become the target of nasty messages from fellow pupils on Formspring, a website (which has since closed) where the senders could remain anonymous.

She was further upset at being rejected by a boy she liked. On the evening before Valentine's Day, she looked at Formspring one last time - with its latest, poisonous message - then slipped out of the house and walked to a nearby railway track. She was hit by a train.

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A family agreement is a great way to start a conversation with your whole family about how you all use the internet and discuss together how to behave in a positive way when online at home, at school or at a friends house. Our family agreement advice provides a list of things to consider when creating a family agreement and some examples. The family agreement template provides a framework that will help families set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use.

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