Wrawby St Mary’s C E Primary School
Internet e-safety and Acceptable Use policy
Why is Internet use important?
The purpose of Internet use in school is to raise educational standards, to promote pupil achievement, to support the professional work of staff and to enhance the school’s management functions.
Internet use is part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for learning.
Internet access is an entitlement for students who show a responsible and mature approach to its use.
The Internet is an essential element in 21st century life for education, business and social interaction. The school has a duty to provide students with quality Internet access as part of their learning experience, from Reception to Year 6
Pupils use the Internet widely outside school and will need to learn how to evaluate Internet information and to take care of their own safety and security.
How does Internet use benefit education?
Benefits of using the Internet in education include:
access to world-wide educational resources including museums and art galleries;
vocational, social and leisure use in libraries, clubs and at home;
access to experts in many fields for pupils and staff;
professional development for staff through access to national developments, educational materials and effective curriculum practice;
collaboration across support services and professional associations;
improved access to technical support including remote management of networks and automatic system updates;
exchange of curriculum and administration data with LA.
access to learning wherever and whenever convenient.
How can Internet use enhance learning?
Increased computer numbers or improved Internet access may be provided, but learning outcomes must also be addressed. Developing effective practice in Internet use for teaching and learning is essential. Often the quantity of information is overwhelming and staff may guide pupils to appropriate websites, or teach search skills. Offering younger pupils a few good sites is often more effective than an Internet search. Above all pupils need to learn to evaluate everything they read and to refine their own publishing and communications with others via the Internet. The following statements demonstrate how Wrawby ST Mary’s CE Primary addresses the need for Internet access via systems linked to technology and infrastructure:
Technology and infrastructure
Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School:
Maintains, via the LA broadband facility, filtered connectivity.
Works in partnership with the LA to ensure any concerns about the system are communicated to the relevant officers so that systems remain robust and provide protection.
Ensures network health through appropriate anti-virus software.
Ensures Administrators are up-to-date with policies.
Ensures that Administrators check to ensure that the filtering methods are effective in practice and that they remove access to any website considered inappropriate.
Uses individual log-ins for children and staff to access the DB learning platform.
Ensures pupils never send personal data over the Internet.
Uses ‘safer’ search engines with children and young people such as yahooligans.yahoo.com | www.askforkids.com and activates ‘safe’ search where appropriate.
Ensures children and young people only publish within appropriately secure learning environments – ie: the Learning Platform
Pupils will be taught what Internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for Internet use.
Internet access will be planned to enrich and extend learning activities.
Staff guide pupils in on-line activities that will support the learning outcomes planned for the pupils’ age and maturity.
Pupils will be educated in the effective use of the Internet in research, including the skills of knowledge location, retrieval and evaluation.
Internet policy and procedures
The risks of internet use in school.
The Internet is an open communications channel, available to all. Anyone can send messages, discuss ideas and publish material with little restriction. These features of the Internet make it both an invaluable resource used by millions of people every day as well as a potential risk to young and vulnerable people.
Much of the material on the Internet is published for an adult audience and some is unsuitable for children. In addition, there is information on weapons, crime and racism that would be considered inappropriate and restricted elsewhere. In a perfect world, inappropriate material would not be visible to pupils using the Internet, but this is not easy to achieve and cannot be guaranteed. It is a sad fact that pupils may occasionally be confronted with inappropriate material, despite all attempts at filtering. The following statements demonstrate how Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School addresses the risks of internet use:
Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School:
Ensures that pupils are taught about appropriate internet use.
Ensures that staff will often use “Favorites” for a selection of websites to focus children on a task.
Supervises children’s internet use at all times and is especially vigilant when pupils have more flexible access.
Uses an appropriate and approved filtering system which blocks harmful and inappropriate sites;
Ensures that websites to be used with children are previewed by staff.
Ensures that when raw image searches are used staff are especially vigilant.
Informs users that Internet use is monitored.
Informs children and staff that that they must report any failure of the filtering systems directly to the ICT co-ordinator and the Headteacher who will report to LA / YHGfL where necessary.
Ensures that pupils are taught what to do if they experience material that they find distasteful, uncomfortable or threatening.
Ensures that access to chat rooms and social networking is only allowed within the Learning Platform.
Requires children to individually sign an e-safety / acceptable use agreement form which is fully explained.
Requires all staff to sign an e-safety / acceptable use agreement form and keeps a copy on file;
Makes clear all users know and understand what the ‘rules of appropriate use’ are and what sanctions result from misuse.
Keeps a record of any bullying or inappropriate behaviour, for evidence in line with the school behaviour management policy and anti bullying policy.
Ensures the named child protection officer has appropriate training in E safety.
Ensures parents provide consent for their child to use the Internet, as well as other ICT technologies, as part of the e-safety acceptable use agreement.
Makes information on reporting offensive materials, abuse / bullying etc available for children, young people parents and carers and staff.
Immediately refers any material we suspect is illegal to the appropriate authorities: Police – and the LA.
Will teach pupils to be critically aware of the materials they read.
How will pupils learn how to evaluate Internet content?
The quality of information received via radio, newspaper and telephone is variable and everyone needs to develop skills in selection and evaluation. Information received via the Internet, e-mail or text message requires good information handling skills. In particular it may be difficult to determine origin and accuracy, as the contextual clues present with books or TV may be missing or difficult to read.
Children, young people and staff must learn to recognise and avoid risks online and to become ‘Internet Wise’. To STOP and THINK before they CLICK. Both need to understand how to ensure personal information is, and remains, private. Staff must not confuse or compromise their professional role with any personal online activity, for example inviting children and young people into their personal social networking site.
Children and young people also need to be ‘savvy’ about what they read, hear and see. In the same way that the quality of information received via radio, newspaper and television is variable, everyone needs to develop skills in selection and evaluation of Internet – based information. Just because something is published in text or on-line does not make it fact.
Information literacy skills therefore need to be taught. These include skills to ‘read’ content – (contextual clues including design, lay-out, text, use of images, links to and from the content), where the material originates from and how the content can be validated.
Often children and young people access reliable material, but need to select that which is relevant to their needs.
Children and young people also need to understand the dangers of using unfiltered web access at a location where parental controls or filtering have not been enabled. Children and young people should be encouraged never to chat through a website or over a webcam with people that they do not already know and trust in the real world and not to post details about themselves to a website, in a message or in a social networking environment.
Pupils and staff need to know how to deal with any Cyber Bullying incidents.
Children, young people and staff need to know appropriate “netiquette” in their general communications:
To enable this, e-safety must be built into schemes of work as appropriate, to ensure children and young people are taught safe behaviours and practice and that there is a ‘No Blame’ culture to enable children and young people to feel able to report any abuse, misuse or inappropriate content.
The following statements demonstrate how Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School addresses the risks of internet use and the need for pupils to evaluate internet content:
How will pupils learn how to evaluate Internet content?
Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School:
Fosters a ‘No Blame’ environment that encourages children and young people to tell a responsible adult immediately if they encounter any material that makes them feel uncomfortable.
Ensures children, young people and staff know what to do if they find inappropriate web material.
Ensures children, young people and staff know what to do if there is a cyber-bullying incident.
Ensures all children and young people know how to report abuse.
Has a clear, progressive e-safety education programme throughout all Key Stages, built on LA / North Lincolnshire/ national guidance. Children and young people are taught a range of skills and behaviours appropriate to their age and experience, such as:
to STOP and THINK before they CLICK.
to discriminate between fact, fiction and opinion.
to develop a range of strategies to validate and verify information before accepting its accuracy.
to skim and scan information.
to be aware that the author of a web site / page may have a particular bias or purpose and to develop skills to recognise what that may be.
to know some search engines / web sites that are more likely to bring effective results.
to know how to narrow down or refine a search.
to understand ‘Netiquette’ behaviour when using an online environment / email, i.e. be polite, no bad or abusive language or other inappropriate behaviour; keeping personal information private.
to understand how photographs can be manipulated and how web content can attract the wrong sort of attention.
to understand why on-line ‘friends’ may not be who they say they are and to understand why they should be careful in online environments.
to understand why they should not post or share detailed accounts of their personal lives, contact information, daily routines, photographs and videos and to know how to ensure they have turned-on privacy settings.
to understand why they must not post pictures or videos of others without their permission.
to understand why and how some people will ‘groom’ young people for sexual reasons.
to know not to download any files without permission.
to have strategies for dealing with receipt of inappropriate materials.
How will pupils learn how to evaluate Internet content? (continued)
Wrawby ST Mary’s C Of E Primary School:
Ensures that when copying materials from the web; children, young people and staff understand issues around copyright and also know that they must observe and respect copyright / intellectual property rights;
Ensures that children, young people and staff understand the issues around aspects of the commercial use of the Internet, as age appropriate. This may include, risks in pop-ups; buying on-line; on-line gaming / gambling;
Ensures staff know how to encrypt data where the sensitivity requires and that they understand data protection and general ICT security issues linked to their role and responsibilities;
Makes training available annually to staff on the e-safety education program;
The following pages contain guidance as to procedures to follow if certain circumstances arise. All staff will be informed of these procedures and the guidance will be reviewed on an annual basis.
If an inappropriate website is accessed unintentionally in by a child, young person or member of staff:
Play the situation down; don’t make it into a drama.
Report to the head teacher/child protection co-ordinator / ICT coordinator.
Inform school technical support and ensure the site is filtered.
Inform the LA who provide the filtering.
If an inappropriate website is accessed intentionally by a child:
Refer to the acceptable use policy that was signed by the child and apply agreed sanctions.
Notify the parents of the child.
Inform the school technical support and ensure the site is filtered if need be.
Inform the LA who provide the filtering.
If an adult uses School IT equipment inappropriately:
Ensure you have a colleague with you; do not view the misuse alone.
Report the misuse immediately to the head teacher and ensure that there is no further access to the PC or laptop.
If the material is offensive but not illegal, the head teacher should then:
Remove the PC to a secure place.
Instigate an audit of all ICT equipment by the schools ICT managed service providers to ensure there is no risk of pupils accessing inappropriate materials in the school.
Identify the precise details of the material.
Take appropriate disciplinary action (contact Personnel/Human Resources).
Refer the incidence to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Inform governors of the incident.
In an extreme case where the material is of an illegal nature:
Contact the local police or High Tech Crime Unit and follow their advice.
If requested, the Headteacher should remove the PC to a secure place and document what has been done.
If a bullying incident directed at a child occurs through email or mobile phone technology, either inside or outside of school time:
Advise the child not to respond to the message.
Refer to the relevant LSCB policies and procedures, e-safety and anti-bullying policies and apply appropriate sanctions.
Secure and preserve any evidence.
If possible, inform the sender’s e-mail service provider.
Notify parents of the children involved.
Inform the police if necessary.
Inform the LA e-safety officer.
If malicious or threatening comments are posted on an Internet site about a pupil or member of staff:
Inform and request the comments be removed if the site is administered externally.
Secure and preserve any evidence.
If thought necessary, send evidence to CEOP(Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre ) at ww.ceop.gov.uk/contact_us.html.
Endeavour to trace the origin and inform police as appropriate.
If thought necessary, inform LA e-safety officer.
If you are concerned that a child’s safety is at risk because you suspect someone is using communication technologies (such as social networking sites) to make inappropriate contact with the child:
Report to and discuss with the named child protection officer in school and contact parents.
Advise the child on how to terminate the communication and save all evidence.
If thought necessary, contact CEOP(Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre ) at http://www.ceop.gov.uk/
Consider the involvement of the police and social services.
Inform LA e-safety officer who is The Head of Safeguarding and Practice.
All of the above incidences must be reported immediately to the head teacher and e-safety officer.
Children should be confident in a no-blame culture when it comes to reporting inappropriate incidents involving the internet or mobile technology: they must be able to do this without fear.
The following pages contain guidance as to procedures to follow when uploading digital and video images to the school website and/or the learning platform. All staff will be informed of these procedures and the guidance will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Excerpts of pupils’ work such as from written work, scanned images of artwork or photographs of items designed and made in technology lessons may be used. This allows pupils to exhibit their work to a wider audience without increasing the risk of inappropriate use of images of pupils.
Links to any external websites should be thoroughly checked before inclusion on a school website to ensure that the content is appropriate both to the school and for the intended audience. Remember that the content of websites can change substantially, even in a short space of time. All links should be checked regularly, not only to ensure that they are still active, but that the content remains suitable.
Text written by pupils should always be reviewed before publishing it on the school website. Make sure that the work doesn’t include the name of the pupil, or reveal other personal information, such as membership of after school clubs or any other details that could potentially identify them. Although it may seem obvious, check that pupils’ work doesn’t contain any statements that could be deemed defamatory.
School should ensure that it is not infringing copyright or intellectual property rights through any content published on the website. For example, using images sourced through Google, or using a Trademark for which copyright permission has not been sought.
The school’s website should not contain any personal details of staff or pupils.
Digital images / video of pupils should be stored securely and old images deleted after a reasonable period, or when the pupil has left the school.
When saving pictures, ensure that the image file is appropriately named. Do not use pupils’ names in image file names when published on the web.
Staff should not use software to ‘rip-out’ sections of copyrighted movies (for use in literacy, say) without permission.
Pupils should use safe online environments for publishing, such as the common learning platform.
Staff and pupils should know who to report any inappropriate use of images to and understand the importance of safe practice. Staff and pupils also need to understand how to consider an external ‘audience’ when publishing or presenting work.
How will school ensure the safe use of digital and video images?
At Wrawby C 0f E Primary School:
The Headteacher takes overall editorial responsibility to ensure that the website content is accurate and quality of presentation is maintained.
Uploading of material to the school website is the responsibility of all teaching staff and the Headteacher
Uploading of educational material to the learning platform is restricted to all class teachers in their class areas.
Pupils may upload material to their own space within the learning platform but this can be checked by the administrator/class teacher.
The school web site complies with the school’s guidelines for publications.
Most material on the school website is the school’s own work. Where other’s work is published or linked to, we credit the sources used and state clearly the author’s identity or status;
The point of contact on the web site is the school address and telephone number. Home information or individual e-mail identities will not be published;
Photographs published on the web do not have full names attached;
We gain parental / carer permission for use of digital photographs or video involving their child as part of the school agreement form when their daughter / son joins the school;
Digital images /video of pupils are carefully stored. These images are deleted at the end of the year – unless an item is specifically kept for a key school publication.
We do not use pupils’ names in the file names when saving images.
Staff sign the school’s Acceptable Use Policy and this includes a clause on the use of mobile phones / personal equipment for taking pictures of pupils.
Pupils are taught about how images can be abused in their eSafety education programme;
How will school manage Social networking and personal publishing?
At Wrawby ST Mary’s C of E Primary School:
Access to social networking sites will be blocked.
Pupils will be advised never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them and / or their location. Examples would include real name, address, mobile or landline phone numbers, school attended, e-mail addresses, full names of friends, specific interests and clubs etc.
Pupils will be advised not to place personal photos on any social network space. They will be told how public the information is.
Teachers will be advised not to run social network spaces for student use on a personal basis.
Staff and children will be made aware that bullying can take place through social networking.
Keeping safe: stop, think, before you click!
14 rules for responsible ICT use
These rules will keep everyone safe and help us to be fair to others:
I will only use the school’s computers for schoolwork and homework.
I will not bring mobile phones into the school.
I will only delete my own files.
I will not look at other people’s files without their permission.
I will keep logins and passwords secret.
I will not bring files into school without permission.
I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet and will not visit Internet sites I know to be banned by the school.
I will only e-mail people I know, or my parents have approved.
The messages I send, or information I upload, will always be polite and sensible.
I will not open an attachment, or download a file, unless I have permission or I know and trust the person who has sent it.
I will not give my home address, phone number, send a photograph or video, or give any other personal information that could be used to identify me, my family or my friends.
I will never arrange to meet someone I have only ever previously met on the Internet or by email or in a chat room, unless my parent/ guardian has given me permission and I take a responsible adult with me.
If I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive a message I do not like, I will not respond to it but I will tell a teacher or other member of staff.
If I am unsure or concerned at any time I must tell a teacher or other member of staff.
Wrawby St Mary’s C of E Primary School
E-safety agreement form
Keeping safe: stop, think, before you click!
Pupil name: __________________________________________
Parent/Guardian name: _________________________________
I have read the school ‘rules for responsible ICT use’.
My teacher has explained them to me.
I understand these rules are there to help keep me safe, and my friends and family safe. I agree to follow the rules.
This means I will use the computers, Internet, e-mail, online communities, digital cameras, video recorders, and other ICT in a safe and responsible way.
I understand that the school can check my computer files, and the Internet sites I visit, and that if they have concerns about my safety, that they may contact my parent / carer.
Pupil’s signature _______________________________________
Date: ___/___/___
As the parent/guardian of _____________, I have read and understood the responsibilities of my child when using school ICT facilities.
Parent/Guardian signature: _______________________________
Date: ___/___/___
Wrawby St Mary’s C of E Primary School
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): Staff
The following AUP covers use of digital technologies in school: i.e. email, Internet, intranet and network resources, learning platform, software, mobile technologies, equipment and systems.
I will only use the school’s digital technology resources and systems for Professional purposes or for uses deemed ‘reasonable’ by the Head and Governing Body.
I will only use the school approved, secure email system(s) for any school business (Web mail and hotmail accounts are not secure email system(s)).
I will not browse, download or send material that could be considered offensive to colleagues and any other individuals.
I will report any accidental access to, or receipt of inappropriate materials, or filtering breach to the ICT co-ordinator and the Headteacher.
I will not allow unauthorised individuals to access email / Internet / intranet / network, or other school / LA systems.
I will ensure that all my login credentials (including passwords) are not shared with any other individuals, displayed or used by any individual than myself.
I will not download any software or resources from the Internet that can compromise the network, or are not adequately licensed.
I will follow the guidance in the People who work with Young People document and ensure my personnel email accounts, mobile/home telephone numbers are not shared with children, young people or families.
I understand that all Internet usage / and network usage can be logged and this information could be made available to the Headteacher on request.
I will ensure all documents are labelled, saved, accessed and deleted in accordance with the school’s network security and confidentiality protocols, which ensure minimum mandatory compliance with the Cabinet Officer Data handling Procedures in Government [http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/data_handling.aspx]
I will not connect a computer, laptop or other device (including USB flash drive), to the network / Internet that has not been approved by the School and meets its minimum security specification (i.e up to date approved Anti virus etc.)
I will not use personal digital cameras or camera phones for transferring images of pupils or staff without permission.
I will use the school’s Learning Platform in accordance with school and providers policies and guidance.
I will ensure that any private social networking sites / blogs etc that I create or actively contribute to are not confused with my professional role.
I will not engage in any online activity that may compromise my professional responsibilities.
I agree and accept that any computer or laptop loaned to me by the school is provided solely to support my professional responsibilities and that I will notify the school of any software or device relating to personal use to ensure it does not breach the schools policies.
I will ensure any confidential data that I wish to transport from one location to another is protected by encryption to the schools published standard and that I follow school data security protocols when using any such data at any location.
I understand that The Data Protection Act requires that any information seen by me with regard to staff or pupil information, held within any schools system (e.g. MIS, Learning Platforms etc), will be kept private and confidential, EXCEPT when it is deemed necessary that I am required by law to disclose such information to an appropriate authority.
I will ensure I am aware of digital safe-guarding issues so they are appropriately embedded in my classroom practice.
I will only use LA systems in accordance with any corporate policies.
I understand that failure to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy could lead to disciplinary action.
User Signature
I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that I remain up-to-date and read and understand the school’s most recent Acceptable Use Policy (normally an annual revisit).
I agree to abide by the school’s most recent Acceptable Use Policy.
I wish to be able to use the school’s ICT resources and systems.
Signature …….………………….………… Date ……………………
Full Name …………………………………………………………………….. (printed)
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