New software to protect vulnerable children online to be piloted in Surrey

May 14, 2013 - PRLog -- The project, being run by the Epsom based child protection charity, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, will involve 25 families taking part in at two month trial of computer monitoring software, developed by software company Securus, based in Hersham.

The software is programmed to monitor computer activity and record instances of concern, for example, inappropriate content such as sexual material, indications of grooming occurring or bullying situations. It contains a number of ‘libraries’ which allow it to identify worrying or concerning text or images on the computer screen – either online or offline and if something is identified, it takes a screen shot which can then be reviewed by an adult and appropriate action taken.

The charity is working with a number of Surrey based Special Educational Needs Schools to pilot the software with 25 families but has some places left for other families across the county.

Director of Research and Development at the Foundation, Donald Findlater said:  

“As we have been hearing in the news today, the internet can pose real risks to children. Statistics from the the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) show that in the last 12 months they received 18,887 reports of abuse, that’s 14% more than the previous year.

“Research we conducted into internet safety and children with Special Educational Needs showed that many pupils with Special Educational Needs are regular internet users but have a limited understanding of the potential dangers to their safety they face online.

“While filtering and blocking software has a role to play in keeping children safe, it wouldn’t pick up on grooming behaviour on Facebook, for example. This software will. We hope it will prove to be an important additional tool for parents and carers who want to keep their children safe online.”

The research report, Internet Safety and Children with Special Education Needs, found that:

·         Special Educational Needs children are using technology in much the same way as other children, albeit there was some evidence of less extensive use of the internet and they appear to engage in social networking at a later age. They often seek friendships online as they are often isolated from their local communities.

·         Mainstream technology providers who cumulatively create the online environment have made little if any allowance for users who may have learning and behavioural difficulties.

·         Messages about online safety have been received by the children but were not necessarily well understood or applied to the range of online contexts that is desirable.

·         Basic terminology such as ‘social networking’ and ‘privacy settings’ were not meaningful to most of the children studied.

·         The children may struggle to anticipate and respond to risks involving deceit, may respond to inappropriate requests (perhaps repeating inappropriate behaviour) and may become obsessive in their online activities.

·         Teachers lacked confidence that the children would or were able to implement their self-protective strategies sufficiently; and some parents lacked confidence in their own knowledge and skills to provide a safe online environment at home.

·         Online risks are unlikely to materialise in the school environment due to the filtering, monitoring and supervision that is in place here. By far the greatest risk for children with special educational needs, as with other children, is when they are at home or at the home of a friend or relative.

·         Parents lacked up-to-date knowledge, not only of the risks and of their management, but also of the different ways in which children engage with technology.

Director of Research and Development at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation added:

“This study showed that we have a cohort of children participating in all the same online activities as other children, but lacking the ability to judge and interpret the way in which people they encounter on the net behave towards them. A question such as ‘What are you wearing?’ might immediately send warning signals to other children but may be answered as a matter of course by a Special Educational Needs pupil. Managing the privacy settings on a Facebook account can also prove difficult for some Special Educational Needs pupils. Filtering and blocking software does not address these sorts of risks.

“Along with the monitoring software, parents and carers will also be encouraged to contact the Stop it Now! Helpline if they have any concerns about their child’s safety. Trained staff will then be on hand to offer advice, information and support.”

If you would like to take part in the software monitoring trial at no cost, contact the Lucy Faithfull Foundation on 01372 847160 or email Wolvercote@lucyfaithfull.org.uk

To find out more about how you can protect children from sexual abuse visit www.parentsprotect.co.uk

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

For more information and/or interview opportunities please contact Deborah Denis on ddenis@lucyfaithfull.org.uk | 01372 847160 | 07540 690 315

www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk  and www.stopitnow.org.uk  


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