HEALTHY SCREENS,
HEALTHY MINDS
Resources for Parents and Carers
Welcome to our Healthy Screens, Healthy Minds Guide. This resource has been created to support families in developing healthy, safe, and positive screen habits at home. Shaped in partnership with our school Media Team and refined through community feedback, this guidance reflects the real needs and concerns of our school community. By working together, we aim to build a consistent and supportive approach to online safety that helps every child thrive in the digital world.
1. Establishing a Family Media Agreement
A Family Media Agreement provides a structured, collaborative approach to managing technology at home. By agreeing on clear expectations, families can foster responsible digital habits and ensure screen time is both positive and purposeful.
Key Elements to Consider:
-
Screen-Free Zones: Designate areas such as the dining table or bedrooms where devices are not permitted. This encourages face-to-face interaction and improves sleep hygiene.
-
Time Boundaries: Agree on specific times for device usage, ensuring technology does not interfere with homework, physical activity, or family time.
-
Content and Privacy: Establish clear rules regarding appropriate content and the secure handling of personal information online.
-
Open Communication: Foster a supportive environment where children feel comfortable reporting anything they encounter online that causes concern, without fear of punitive device removal.
2. Trust-Wide Policies and Procedures
Across our Multi-Academy Trust, safeguarding pupils in the digital environment is a critical priority. Our policies are designed to protect students while empowering them to utilize technology safely and effectively for their education.
Our Operational Framework:
-
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): All pupils and staff operate under a comprehensive AUP, ensuring that school networks and devices are utilized securely and respectfully.
-
Filtering and Monitoring: We maintain robust filtering and monitoring systems across all Trust networks to restrict inappropriate content and identify potential safeguarding risks early.
-
Digital Citizenship: Online safety is systematically embedded within our curriculum. We actively teach pupils to evaluate online information critically and to conduct themselves responsibly.
-
Data Security: We rigorously comply with all data protection regulations, ensuring that student and family data remains secure at all times.
3. Your Weekly Media Plan
A Weekly Media Plan translates your Family Media Agreement into a practical, day-to-day routine. It ensures a balanced integration of digital and offline activities, supporting your child's overall wellbeing.
Strategies for Success:
-
Categorise Screen Time: Draw clear distinctions between educational screen time (e.g., homework, research) and recreational screen time (e.g., gaming, streaming).
-
Schedule Offline Activities: Proactively plan time for non-digital hobbies, physical activity, and family interaction.
-
Implement a Digital Sunset: Establish a routine where all screens are turned off at least one hour prior to bedtime to support healthy sleep patterns.
-
Review and Adapt: Regularly review the plan as a family. As children mature and their digital requirements change, adjust boundaries to ensure they remain appropriate and effective.
Family Media Agreement
To support a strong partnership between home and school, we have introduced the Family Media Agreement to help safeguard our children's online experiences. This document outlines our shared commitment to fostering healthy, safe, and balanced digital habits both in the classroom and at home. It provides clear guidance for establishing positive routines while detailing the robust measures we implement across our schools to ensure a secure learning environment. We invite all parents and carers to download, review, and sign this agreement with their child to help us collaboratively build their digital resilience.
Manor MAT Policies outline how the Trust protects pupils online, how digital learning is managed safely, and what measures are in place to promote responsible, secure technology use across all schools. Parents are encouraged to explore these policies if they wish to learn more about the wider Trust approach to keeping children safe online.
Artificial Intelligence Policy
Cyber Security Policy
Online Safety Policy
Mobile, ICT and Electronic Devices Policy
Manor MAT Digital and Data Acceptable Use Agreement Policy
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
All these policies are updated regularly and can be found here.
