Internet Chatroom Safety

All children now use the Internet for a wide variety of reasons, whether it be for research purposes, playing games, purchasing, or, what seems to be the most used nowadays, social chat sites.

It is important that we make children aware of the benefits of using these sites, but also of possible dangers.  With this in mind, The Safety Centre offers Year 5 & 6 children the opportunity to watch an Internet Safety Chatroom DVD.

The children are presented with a series of questions and their answers are recorded by the guide.  Schools then receive the recorded answers.

Follow-up sessions:

The Safety Centre offers follow-up lessons with every group that visits the Centre. These sessions directly reinforce the messages given at the Centre whilst encouraging community safety and citizenship. They are specifically designed to encourage children to change their behaviour towards taking responsibility.

Vandalism - Awareness of vandalism is a constant theme throughout the Safety Centre. A specific scenario depicts an anti-vandalism message. This is shown as a video, which is filmed against a Milton Keynes background, using local school aged pupils to deliver far-reaching messages.

The follow-up session concentrates on raising awareness of the effects of vandalism, cost to the community, social implications and effects on the environment. Links are made with areas of local concern and any relevant vandalism within the school environment.

Theft - This follow-up programme has been designed in conjunction with the Milton Keynes Retail Shop Theft Initiative and Thames Valley Police and concentrates on shop theft and effects on both the victim [the store] and the offender.

Click here for Shop Theft Lesson Plans

Click here for Shop Theft Activity ideas

Classroom work involves the pupils in role-play situations whereby they are asked to consider the effects upon the individual, the shop and family members. They are also asked to consider how an arrest could affect their job opportunities and future career. Children are left with a personal safety message that provides them with a strategy for seeking help if ever they are involved with others that steal.

Discussion work includes the effects of shoplifting, petty theft and other issues relevant to individual schools.

Internet Chatroom Safety - during the class session, the children will further develop their understanding of the importance of safety when using a chatroom. Discussion forms the basis of the session, emphasising the messages given at the Safety Centre, and the need for caution, whilst at the same time benefitting from the advantages of the internet.

Drug Safety - Our Schools Liasion Officers are trained to present drug education messages.

Classroom work involves the presentation of an interactive CD ROM (funded by Milton Keynes Drug Action Team - MKDAT), followed by role-play and discussion work. The session highlights the distinction between: socially accepted drugs, over the counter medicines, prescription medicines and illegal drugs. Protective Behaviours strategies are used throughout to emphasise the fact that behaviour is a choice with an effect.

A series of Drug Education lessons, based upon the Protective Behaviours approach are available for teachers to download from the Safety Centre website:- www.safetycentre.co.uk

Other follow-up sessions are available on request from the School Liasion team.

Follow-up sessions - costs:

At the present time, Milton Keynes schools receive 2 sessions per class free of any extra charge.  Should  a Milton Keynes school wish to have further follow-up sessions, these are charged at £40 +VAT.

From, September 2008, this charge will increase to £50 + VAT. 

For schools outside the Milton Keynes Education area, there is a charge of £40 + VAT per session, with discounts for multiple sessions.  Again from September 2008, this charge will increase to £50 + Vat per session.

We are sorry to have to increase the cost for follow-up sessions, but increased costs of fuel have forced this upon us.  This will be our first increase since November 2005.  We hope that you still consider these sessions to be a valuable contribution to the curriculum and continue to use them in the classroom.

Non-visits to the Safety Centre:

If a school (outside Milton Keynes) is unable to book a visit to the Safety Centre, but is interested in receiving any of the teacher follow-up sessions to contribute to their school's PHSE and Citizenship curriculum, this can be arranged. These sessions would, however, incur a cost of £90 per session (including any travel costs) plus VAT.

Teachers Notes: Shop Theft

PDF Work Sheet: Shop Theft