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What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: Nintendo Switch 2 🎮

New name, new features… same concerns? 🎮🛑 The Nintendo Switch 2 is the Japanese gaming giant’s latest console, and while it boasts impressive updates, it also brings a few new features for parents and educators to be aware of.

From the arrival of real-time GameChat 🗣️ and a plug-in camera 📷 to an easier path to mature content 🔞 and in-app spending 💸, there’s a lot to consider. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide sets out what adults need to know, and how they can keep gaming fun and safe for the children in their care🛡️.

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.

 

Smartphone Free Schools

You may have seen in the local news a collective letter from 11 of the 63 city’s headteachers promoting smartphone free schools and childhoods. Please be aware that Lord Deramore’s wholeheartedly promotes the principles of this collective letter. We have always actively promoted phone-free childhoods and do a lot of work with our junior children around the pitfalls of smartphones, internet and excessive screen use.

Whilst we know that a small minority of our oldest pupils have to bring in phones for safety or logistical reasons, we ask that you only allow this for exceptional reasons and that you please consider using smart free alternatives.

The use of mobile phones, smartphones or smart watches are not permitted during the school day. In exceptional cases where children need to bring them into school, they must be turned off and handed to their class teacher for the full day. School does not take any responsibility for the safety of such devices and are not liable for any lost or stolen personal belongings (our school insurance does not cover for this).  

https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/Mr Rourke

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What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: Youtube Kids

YouTube Kids is designed to be the safer cousin of the regular YouTube app; however, built-in risks continue to pose concerns 👀 From targeted advertising to addictive design, there’s more going on behind the scenes than many realise. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks it all down.

Whether it’s inappropriate content slipping past filters or tech-savvy kids bypassing parental settings, YouTube Kids still needs careful oversight. Our guide provides clear, easy-to-follow tips to help adults keep young users protected while still enjoying their favourite videos 🎬🛡

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.

 

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: Violent Content Online

Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. Violent content online isn’t just something young people are occasionally stumbling across – in many cases, it’s becoming a routine part of their digital world 📱. From fights 🥊 and stabbings 🗡️ to toxic ideologies ☣️, disturbing videos are often just a click away on social media or group chats.

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights the unseen risks this poses to children’s mental health 🧠, sense of safety 🛡️, and social behaviours. With insights from a leading expert 👩‍🏫, it offers practical ways for parents and educators to respond with empathy 💞 and support 🤝 – not punishment or panic 🚫.

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.

 

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: Minecraft

Still the best-selling game of all time, Minecraft has hundreds of millions of players – making it more important than ever to stay informed. With its vibrant worlds 🌍 and endless potential for creativity 🧱 it’s no wonder Minecraft continues to capture young imaginations 💭

With the Minecraft movie hitting cinemas in April, interest in the game has remained strong🎬 But whether they’re mining resources or building digital castles, children could also encounter strangers, scary content or bullying behaviour online.

We’ve created this free guide offering parents and educators the latest top tips on how to keep children safe from issues like griefing, chat risks, and unintended purchases, while still embracing the game’s educational and creative benefits 🎮💡

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Making Friends Online

Making friends online can open doors to exciting new experiences 🌍💬 – but it can also expose children to serious risks 🚩😟 Around 19% of children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales have chatted online with someone they’ve never met face to face. Our latest #WakeUpWednesday guide explores how young people form connections online and what trusted adults should know. 

With expert advice on encouraging safer habits 🔐, spotting red flags 🚨 and keeping communication open 🗣️, this week’s free guide offers valuable guidance for parents and educators alike. It’s all about helping children navigate online friendships safely, confidently — and most importantly, happily 💛🙂

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

Click for a larger .pdf version!

This guide is from National Online Safety.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Streamers

You may already know that livestreaming plays a major role in children’s entertainment, with a wide range of personalities influencing young viewers in both positive and negative ways. While watching streamers can be fun, it also comes with significant risks, including misinformation, 💰 financial harms, and ⚠️ inappropriate content.

Popular streaming platform Twitch has over 2.5 million viewers at any given time, which is why it’s more important than ever to stay informed. This week’s guide 📖, also available as a podcast 🎧, explores the potential dangers of livestreaming and offers essential insights to help you protect the children in your care.

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.

Vacancy – Class Teacher (0.4 fte)

Job Title:

Class Teacher (0.4 fte)

Salary, Package and Working Pattern:

  • Salary: M3 to UPS3 – £35,674-£49,084 (reduced pro rata)
  • Teachers Pay and Conditions
  • Permanent contract
  • 0.4fte – two days per week

Job Description:

A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced part-time teacher to join the Lord Deramore’s Primary School staff team. We are seeking to recruit a 0.4FTE Class Teacher and subject coordinator for September 2025 on a permanent contract. This post is unfortunately not suitable for Early Career Teachers.

Lord Deramore’s is an outstanding one-form entry LA maintained school, situated next to the University of York. Founded in 1795, it is oversubscribed and has a long-standing reputation for providing children with a creative, diverse and inclusive education. It is a happy and supportive school with very high levels of staff morale.

The successful candidate will job share with our Deputy Headteacher and, depending on annual year group allocations, could involve deployment in any of our classes from EYFS up to Year 6. The working pattern for this vacancy is two days per week, which could be negotiable upon appointment.

The school will be fully committed to providing professional development opportunities to the successful candidate, potentially including middle and senior leadership development.

Applicants are asked to include the following information in their supporting statements:

  • Your experience and background.
  • Evidence that you are a capable and talented classroom practitioner.
  • Your curriculum strengths, talents, interests and expertise.
  • Why you have chosen to apply for this post – and specifically at Lord Deramore’s.

How to Apply:

Visits to the school are available. Please email office.ld@york.gov.uk. to arrange a tour at certain times during w/c 21st April and 28th April.

A detailed recruitment pack can be downloaded here, and application forms (“School Teaching & Leadership application”) are available to download below.

Please submit completed application forms by post or electronically to: office.ld@york.gov.uk or FAO James Rourke, Lord Deramore’s Primary School, School Lane, York, YO10 5EE.

Closing Date:

Sunday 4th May at 12 midnight

Shortlisting:

w/c Monday 5th May

If possible, visits to shortlisted candidate’s current settings may take place before interview day

Interviews:

Friday 16th May

Vacancy – Midday Supervisory Assistant

Job Title:

Midday Supervisory Assistant (MSA)

Salary, Package and Working Pattern:

Grade 2 Level 1-4 (£23,473 per annum) reduced pro-rata; (£12.17 – £12.25 per hour with access to local government pension scheme)

Permanent contract; Term Time contract

5 hours 50 minutes per week, Mondays to Fridays (school term time only) 11.55am to 1.05pm

Job Description:

Lord Deramore’s Primary School is looking for a Midday Supervisory Assistant to help make our children’s lunch hour happy and safe for all.

Main duties include:

  • Supervising children to ensure they keep safe
  • Supporting children in play activities
  • Assisting younger children in eating their lunches
  • Keeping the lunch hall calm, tidy and organised
  • Ensuring a happy playtime for all
  • Providing first aid as required (training will be provided)
  • Supporting children with special educational needs (including requirements related to individual children’s EHCP plans)

The ideal candidate needs to have:

  • A caring attitude – compassionate and friendly
  • Reliability and dedication
  • Tact and sensitivity
  • Observational skills
  • Effective communication skills
  • An approachable style
  • A willingness to follow the school’s policies, procedures and protocols and ensure that they are followed
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team

The working pattern for this post is Mondays to Fridays (school term time only) 11.55am to 1.05pm. plus attendance at one staff training day each year in September.

How to Apply:

For further details and an application pack, please contact the school via office.ld@york.gov.uk

An application form (“Support Staff application form”) and further details are available to download below. Please submit completed forms by post or electronically to: office.ld@york.gov.uk or Lord Deramore’s Primary School, School Lane, York, YO10 5EE.

For further information, please feel free to contact the school office on 01904 553890.

Closing Date:

3rd April, 2025

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Roblox

Online multiplayer games like Roblox are enjoyed by millions across the world and can be a great way for friends to socialise; however, they can also expose young people to variety of potential harms. Roblox is a multi-platform game that enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and put younger players at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, it’s important to be aware of other risk factors, such as in-game purchases and potential scams that can put young people at risk financially.  We’ve created this week’s free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators expert advice about what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

Grab our guide below!National Online Safety

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This guide is from National Online Safety.