Safety certainly comes first for one group of pupils, as their school is officially web-secure.

Whitehaven’s Valley Primary School and Nursery has proven its commitment to keeping youngsters safe when online, by becoming a National Online Safety Certified School.

The school received the impressive certification after completing the necessary training and showing its dedication to protecting pupils.

And staff couldn’t be more proud, and Charlotte Branney, computing co-ordinator at Valley Primary School and Nursery, said: “Ensuring our pupils are fully aware of the dangers online and how to become responsible users of the internet has always been a priority in school, but this has become more apparent during lockdown and the introduction of online learning platforms.

“I am delighted that the staff and parents have managed to work together, despite the distance, to complete the necessary training to achieve the National Online Safety Certified School status, whilst also trying to navigate the pressures from the current pandemic.”

The thrilled school received the accreditation for its approach to protecting children in the online world, completing extensive resources created in-line with Department of Education requirements.

James Southworth, co-founder at National Online Safety, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Valley Primary School and Nursery on becoming a National Online Safety Certified School.

“By completing our training programme, the school has shown its strong commitment to implementing an effective whole school approach to online safety.”

He continued: “It can be increasingly difficult for schools and parents to stay ahead of online threats and ensure both children and staff are safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material.

“We arm schools with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and how best to react to any problems.”