CPD
We still have places on Teach Computing in Y5 course on Thursday, let me know if you have anyone you wish to come to it. The other course still to start is the Teach Computing in Y6 – which is on May 12th. Again, let me know if anyone wants to attend.
Piracy Advice
If children and young people want content that is unavailable to them, they may take to search engines at home or at school that some filters may not pick up. Streaming or downloading from illegal sites can expose them to viruses, age-inappropriate content and disturbing pop-ups. Learn more about the issue from Internet Matters by clicking here.
Munchausen by Internet
VoiceBox (a youth-lead organisation) investigated a new digital phenomenon, faking certain health disorders on social media. They uncovered a complex and troubling issue. Read their report here.
Vampire Devices
With the hike in energy costs now could be the time to think about what devices we leave plugged in or on standby that are slowly using power and adding to costs. British Gas say games consoles left on standby work out at an average of £12.17, while computers could cost about £11.22 per year. Read the BBC report here. It might be time to rethink the way we use our devices at home and school, and unplug instead of putting on standby.
Just to make you aware, we have had a couple of reports of instances of a new craze in KS1 playgrounds in South Tyneside. Huggy Wuggy Bear! The character is part of an adventure game available in the google play store. The age range is Teen, but the game is based in a Toy Factory and has some appeal to younger children.
Of course the craze has gone viral on Tik Tok and other social channels. In the playground it seems to be manifesting as “jump, scare” games. There is also a video on You Tube with some questionable lyrics, which is being sung in schools.
South Tyneside’s Spring Holiday Club programme is here! Free places are available for children and young people in South Tyneside, aged 5-16, who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals or from a family currently experiencing hardship.
The programme offers a range of fun activities for children and young people to enjoy with their families, including dancing, games, crafts, sports and outdoor challenges, along with nutritious meals at each event.
Booking is essential for events. For more information and to sign up, visit: www.southtyneside.gov.uk/holidayclub
#HAF2022 #SpringHolidayClub
All events are subject to availability.
Coding skills
Modding can be a gateway to coding and programming – it could be the first step towards a career in game development. It’s a great way for your child to let their imaginations run wild while honing the coding skills they may have begun to learn in school. But…
Dangers of Mods
The biggest concern around mods is the possibility of adult, explicit or age-inappropriate content being added to a game. For example, one of the most common modifications is to sexualise a (usually female) character’s appearance or simulate sexual activity. These are not picked up by the games PEGI ratings and can be disturbing when young children find them.
Mods are sometimes accessed by “downloadable content”. Accessing content in this way could leave your device exposed to malware or viruses. XBox also warns that personal data may be exposed or accessed by the mod’s creator.
Free virtual parent session on developing your child’s computing confidence
From building a business, cutting hair and fixing cars to developing new tech, it’s hard to think of a career or job where your child won’t need to be creative, solve problems or think clearly and sequentially. And it’s never too early to support your child in developing these core skills.
As part of the Confident Explorers programme, from Parent Zone supported by Google, we’ve been building on our online safety learning to discover how confidence with computers and coding can help foster a range of skills that will give your child the best options and opportunities for their future. We’d love you to get involved by joining a fun and free 20-minute virtual session that tells you everything you need to know to help your child explore the world of computing. You’ll also have the chance to ask our expert hosts Tim and Chelsea any questions you may have.
Tune in on Thursday 17th March at 5pm on this link – you can also register your interest here for a reminder the day before. You can send us your questions in advance by emailing [email protected]
And if you can’t make it, you can watch the session back at a time that suits you, using the same link as above.
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News and social media feeds are filled with the latest information about the the situation in Ukraine. Most of it is very upsetting and worrying; and may not even be verified. Children listening and viewing distressing images can become frightened and fearful. Many in our schools and communities will be directly affected and may have families or roots in the region.
Here are some links to resources to help you think about how adults can support children with what they are seeing or feeling.
BBC Newsround has an excellent section explaining what is going on https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/60417806
You can request an assembly pack from Picture News by clicking here
Our Facebook feed has some useful prompts for talking about war and other upsetting situations https://www.facebook.com/openzoneattheword/
Channel Mum on facebook has posted a really good way of explaining the background of the situation with Russia https://m.facebook.com/channelmum/photos/5214138265291532/
If you can’t read on Facebook, here is a screenshot of the post:
Supporting your child if they see upsetting content online about what is happening in Ukraine (Childnet)
https://www.childnet.com/blog/
We should not hide from children what is happening in Ukraine (Schools Week/Children’s Commissioner)
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/we-
How to talk to children about what’s happening in Ukraine and World War Three anxiety (Metro)
https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/
Help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how to help them avoid misinformation (Department for Education)
https://educationhub.blog.gov.
