Trying to educate our youngsters on e-safety and cyber bullying has been made a whole lot easier by a great 45 minute performance called ‘In the Net’ from social issue theatre group AlterEgo Creative Solutions.

So it was great to hear that Epsom Primary & Nursery School invited year 4 pupils from four neighbouring local schools - Danetree, Southfield Park, Stamford Green and Wallace Fields Schools – to watch this important workshop recently. 

The performance was a fun, panto like, show where the young audience didn’t always know they are being taught but rather reminded of the correct behaviour with humour, songs and an element of seriousness. 

‘In the Net’ see’s Dotty celebrating her 7th birthday by receiving a new tablet and then posts lots of her own personal information and then starts being, sadly, unkind to a school friend online. 

Dotty thinks because it is online no-one actually gets hurt but after being ‘dragged into the net’ she meets 2 colourful characters who make her realise the consequences of her actions. 

The core message is that everyone needs to act exactly as they would in school when they are online, which means kind, open and honest and that anything published online is logged forever. 

Not too sinister the performance reassures children to close down screens and to talk to an adult if they find a website that makes them go ‘uh-oh’ or if they see dialogue that is inappropriate. 

The audience of over 415 year pupils across five Epsom schools sang, replied and asked questions and shouted ‘behind you’ throughout and appeared to be captivated by the show. 

Afterwards Epsom Primary pupils Edie and Amy concluded by saying "It was a really good morning, I learned not to bully online as it is the same as the real world." And "the actors made online safety really easy to understand and reminded us not to talk to anyone we don’t know."

Saffa from Stamford Green said "It was very funny, quite entertaining. I learned a lot".  Phoenix from Danetree said "the characters were really enthusiastic and knew what to do right when online." Poppy from Southfield Park agreed and said “the actors involved the audience and made sure they really understood the messages."  Finally, George from Wallace Fields, beamed saying "Utterly hilarious, showed us all that we must always keep safe online and always tell an adult to make you feel safe."  
Well done to Rhys, Chris and Sophie the ‘In the Net’ actors, it seems a very valuable lesson has been learned by all.

Article supplied by Tracey Blandford