E-Safety and Acceptable Use Policy This policy has been written in consultation with pupils and staff so that they understand that there are dangers associated with Internet use, and they know what behaviour is expected of them. Rationale: We want to equip our pupils and staff to enjoy and achieve economic wellbeing through the media of ICT. We recognize inherent risk and to address this we aim to ensure that any communications technology (including computers, mobile devices and mobile phones etc.) is used to support learning without creating unnecessary risk to users. We aim to protect children from undesirable materials on the Internet, to protect them from undesirable contacts over the Internet, to prevent unacceptable use of the Internet by children or adults and the potential threats of cyber-bullying and grooming. Content Contact Conduct exposure to inappropriate content, including online pornography, ignoring age ratings in games (exposure to violence associated with often racist language), substance abuse lifestyle websites, for example pro-anorexia/self-harm/suicide sites hate sites content validation: how to check authenticity and accuracy of online content grooming cyber-bullying in all forms identity theft (including frape (hacking Facebook profiles) and sharing passwords privacy issues, including disclosure of personal information digital footprint and online reputation health and well-being (amount of time spent online (internet or gaming)) sexting (sending and receiving of personally intimate images) copyright (little care or consideration for intellectual property and ownership (for example music and film)) Preventative measures: It is the school s policy that every reasonable step should be taken to prevent exposure of children to undesirable materials on the Internet. We recognise that this can happen not only through deliberate searching for such materials, but also unintentionally when a justifiable Internet search yields unexpected results. To prevent such occurrences, the School has adopted the following position:- 1
1. We use Worcestershire County Council s site blacklisting and filtering services which block undesirable sites including those that feature social media, messaging and blogging. 2. We regularly monitor and receive reports on all use of the Internet in school including terms typed into web pages and search engines with Forensic Software 3. We also teach children how to use the Internet responsibly and safely, and what to do if they inadvertently come across inappropriate content. 4. We use of Worcestershire Learning Gateway which is accessed via unique password 5. Downloading files is restricted to staff only In the event of children being unintentionally exposed to undesirable materials, the following steps will be taken: Pupils should use the Blue Dolphin know to notify a teacher immediately The Head Teacher will be notified by the teacher The incident will be recorded in a central log, by which the school may reliably report the frequency and nature of incidents to any appropriate party Parents or Governors will be notified at the discretion of the Head according to the degree of seriousness of the incident (for example, exposure to materials that include common profanities might not be notified to parents, but exposure to materials that included pornographic images would be notified). Data Protection Currently personal data relating to staff and pupils is held on a separate network from that used by pupils. We ask parents to sign a consent form at the start of the school year to allow their children to use the Internet in school. This allows them to access a wealth of resources to help with their learning and to develop vital ICT skills. We inform parents about the risks in school and at home and promote sites that support e-safety. The Thinkuknow website provides advice and tips for parents. (https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/primary/) Internet cafes have provided information to parents. Cyber safety discussions are included within the curriculum. Pupil commitment: Pupils will be taught about safe use of ICT and sign up to the learners e-safety pledge. (See APPENDIX 1) Children must never intentionally seek offensive material on the Internet. Any transgression should be reported and recorded as outlined above. Any incident will be treated as a disciplinary matter, and the parents of the child or children will normally be informed. Children are expected to use messaging and blogging facilities appropriately. If deliberate access to undesirable materials is found to be repeated, flagrant or habitual, the matter will be treated as a serious disciplinary issue. The child or children s parents will be informed and the Governing Body will be advised. 2
Receipt and transmission of e-mails by children: It is recognised that e-mail messages received or transmitted by children can contain language or content that is unacceptable. It is also recognised that some people may try to use e-mail to identify and contact children for unacceptable reasons. To avoid these problems the school has adopted the following practice:- pupils never read e-mail messages unless an adult is present, or the messages have been previewed by the teacher, steps are taken to verify the identity of any school or child seeking to establish regular e-mail with this school, pupils never send an e-mail message without having the contents approved by their teacher, To avoid children revealing their identification within e-mail messages: only the child s fore-name is revealed, internet aliases are used for each child, the child s address is never revealed, information is never given that might reveal a child s whereabouts If staff believe that children have been targeted with e-mail messages by parties with criminal intent, the messages will be retained, the incident recorded, the Governors and the child s parents informed. Advice will also be taken regarding further steps. Adult commitment: All members of staff will be asked to sign up to a pledge Appendix 2. Deliberate access to undesirable materials by adults is unacceptable, and will be treated as a disciplinary issue. If abuse is found to be repeated, flagrant or habitual, the matter will be treated as a very serious disciplinary issue. The Governors will be advised and the LA will be consulted. Governors commitment: The Governors of Castlemorton CE Primary will ensure that: learners are encouraged to enjoy the safe use of technology to enrich their learning learners are made aware of e-safety and potential risks all adults and learners have received the appropriate acceptable use policies and any required training the school has appointed an e-safety Coordinator and a named governor takes responsibility for e-safety the e-safety and AUP Policy and its implementation will be reviewed annually the school internet access is designed for educational use and will include appropriate filtering and monitoring copyright law is not breached learners are taught to evaluate materials appropriately parents are aware of the acceptable use policy and e-safety pledge parents will be informed that all technology usage may be subject to monitoring, including URL s and text the school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material the school will audit use of technology annually to establish if the e-safety policy is adequate and appropriately implemented and that there are secure methods to identify, assess and minimise risks complaints of internet misuse will be dealt with by a senior member of staff 3
Publishing of Materials of the Internet: It is recognised that staff and children may at some time produce and publish materials on an Internet Web Site associated with the School or the County. No materials will be published on the Internet which contain any unacceptable images, language or content. Infringement of this rule will be taken as a serious disciplinary issued. No materials will be published on the Internet which reveal the identity of any child unless prior permission has been given. Work and images connected with the children at Castlemorton CE Primary will only be published on the internet if parents are happy for their child to take part in media activities. Use of the School Internet by Visitors and Guests: Members of school staff will take responsibility for the actions of any adult guests or visitors who they allow or encourage to use the school Internet facilities. The essential dos and don ts will be explained to such visitors and guests prior to their use of the Internet. Unacceptable use will lead to the immediate withdrawal of permission to use the school Internet facility. Copyright Issues: It is recognised that all materials on the Internet are copyright, unless copyright is specifically waived. It is the school s policy that the copyright of Internet materials will be respected. Where materials are published on the Internet as part of the teacher s professional duties, copyright will remain with the County Council. Internet published materials will contain due copyright acknowledgements for any third-party materials contained within them. Date : September 2014 4
Key Stage 2 Acceptable Use Policy When I am using the computer or other technologies, I want to feel safe all the time.. I agree that I will: always keep my passwords a secret only visit sites which are appropriate to my work at the time work in collaboration only with friends and I will deny access to others tell a responsible adult straight away if anything makes me feel scared or uncomfortable online make sure all messages and blogs I send are respectful Use the Blue Dolphin to cover a message or get sent anything that makes me feel uncomfortable and tell an adult immediately. not reply to any nasty message or anything which makes me feel uncomfortable not give my mobile phone number to anyone who is not a friend only email people I know or those approved by a responsible adult only use email which has been provided by school talk to a responsible adult before joining chat rooms or networking sites always keep my personal details private. (My name, family information, journey to school, my pets and hobbies are all examples of personal details) always check with a responsible adult and my parents before I show photographs of myself never meet an online friend without taking a responsible adult that I know with me I know that once I post a message or an item on the internet then it is completely out of my control. I know that anything I write or say or any website that I visit may be being viewed by a responsible adult Signed 5
Key Stage 1 Acceptable Use Policy I want to feel safe all the time. I agree that I will: always keep my passwords a secret only open pages which my teacher has said are OK only work with people I know in real life tell my teacher if anything makes me feel scared or uncomfortable make sure all messages I send are polite show my teacher if I get a nasty message not reply to any nasty message or anything which makes me feel uncomfortable not give my mobile phone number to anyone who is not a friend in real life only email people I know or if my teacher agrees only use my school email talk to my teacher before using anything on the internet not tell people about myself online (I will not tell them my name anything about my home and family and pets) not load photographs of myself onto the computer never agree to meet a stranger Anything I do on the computer may be seen by someone else Signed 6
Appendix 2. Pledge for Adults (staff, students and voluntary helpers) working with our young people I agree that I will: only use personal data securely implement the schools policy on the use of technology and digital literacy educate pupils in the effective use of the Internet in research including the skills of knowledge location, retrieval and evaluation educate pupils in the recognition of bias, unreliability and validity of sources actively educate learners to respect copyright law only use approved e-mail accounts for school business only use pupil images or work when approved by parents and in a way that will not enable individual pupils to be identified only give access to appropriate users when working with blogs or wikis etc... set strong passwords a strong password is one which uses a combination of letters, numbers and other permitted signs report unsuitable content or activities to the e Safety Coordinator ensure that videoconferencing is supervised appropriately for the learner s age read and sign the acceptable use policy pass on any examples of Internet misuse to a senior member of staff post any supplied E-safety guidance appropriately I agree that I will not: visit Internet sites, make, post, download, upload or pass on, material, remarks, proposals or comments that are; sexually explicit promoting discrimination of any kind promoting racial or religious hatred promoting illegal acts breach any Local Authority/School policies, e.g. gambling do anything which exposes children to danger any other information which may be offensive to colleagues forward chain letters breach copyright law I accept that my use of the school and Local Authority ICT facilities may be monitored and the outcomes of the monitoring may be used. Name (please print). Signature.Date.. 7