KINSON PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

 

E-Safety and Acceptable ICT Usage Policy

 

Kinson Primary School E-safety and Internet Policy has been devised building on the Kent NGfL policy and government guidance. It has been agreed by the senior management and approved by governors and the PFA. It will be reviewed annually.

 

Created by:                     …………………………………………………

 

Date:                               …………………………………………………

 

To be revised:                 …………………………………………………

 

Approved by Governors on:…………………………………………….

 

E-safety Coordinator:………………………………………………………

 

 

 

The Internet is an essential element in 21^st 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.

 

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 information and business administration systems.

 

 

Core Principals of E-Safety Policy

 

E-safety encompasses internet technologies and electronic communications such as mobile phones as well as collaborative tools and personal publishing. It highlights the need to educate pupils about the benefits and risks of using technology and provides safeguards and awareness for users to enable them to control their online experience.

 

The previous Internet Policy has been revised and renamed as the Schools’ E-safety Policy to reflect the need to raise awareness of the safety issues associated with electronic communications as a whole.

 

The school’s E-safety policy will operate in conjunction with other policies including those for Student Behaviour, Bullying, Curriculum, data protection and Security.

 

End to End E-safety

 

E-safety depends on effective practice at a number of levels:

 

• Responsible ICT use by all staff and students; encouraged by education and made explicit through published policies.

 

• Sound implementation of e-safety policy in both administration and curriculum, including secure school network design and use.

 

• Safe and secure broadband from the South West Grid for Learning and Bournemouth Borough Council.

 

• National Education Network standards and specifications

 

The Kinson Primary School Internet Policy is built on the following five core principles:

 

Teaching and Learning

 

Significant educational benefits should result from curriculum Internet use including access to information from around the world and the abilities to communicate widely and to publish easily. Curriculum Internet use should be planned, task-orientated and educational within a regulated and managed environment. Directed and successful Internet use will also reduce the opportunities for activities of dubious worth.

 

Benefits of using the Internet in education include:

 

• Access to world-wide educational resources including museums and art galleries;
• Virtual Teacher Centre (VTC) http://vtc.ngfl.gov.uk;
• Access to experts in many fields for pupils and staff;
• Staff professional development through access to national developments, educational materials and good curriculum practice inclusion in government initiatives such as DfES ICT in Schools and the;
• Communication with support services, professional associates and colleagues;
• Exchange of curriculum and administration data with the LA and DfES;
• Mentoring of pupils and provide peer support for them and teachers.
• Provision and availability of Independent Pupil Learning within a Virtual Learning Environment

 

The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and will include filtering appropriate to the age of pupils. (Filtered by South West Grid for Learning Portal).

 

Pupils will be taught what Internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for Internet use.

 

 

 

Risk Assessment

 

21^st century life presents dangers including violence, racism and exploitation from which children and young people need to be protected. At the same time they must learn to recognise and avoid these risks – to become “Internet Wise”. Schools need to ensure that they are fully aware of the risks, perform risk assessments and implement a policy for Internet use. Pupils need to know how to cope if they come across inappropriate and illegal material.

 

Internet

 

• If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites with inappropriate content (containing only adults) and URL (address) and content should be recorded. The ICT Co-ordinator should be informed immediately and given the details. They will inform the Bournemouth Information Management Team Leader (Robert Young) who will take appropriate action.
• If staff or pupils discover unsuitable site with illegal content (containing adults and children) the computer should have the electricity disconnected while connected to the site, after the URL (address) and content have been recorded, and secured. The ICT Co-ordinator should be informed immediately and given the details. They will inform the police and Bournemouth Information Management Team Leader (Robert Young) who will take the appropriate action.
• Schools should ensure that the use of Internet derived materials by staff and by pupils complies with copyright law.
• Pupils will be taught to acknowledge the source of information used and to respect copyright when using Internet material in their own work.

 

Email

 

• Pupils may only use appropriate internet e-mail accounts on the school system. 
• Pupils must immediately tell a teacher if they receive offensive e-mail. 
• Whole-class e-mail addresses should be used at Key Stage 2 and below. 
• E-mail sent to an external organisation should be written carefully and authorised before sending, in the same way as a letter written on school headed paper. 
• Staff must only use Easy Mail Account, not own personal e-mail address, to contact children/outside agencies/other schools/staff/Educational Establishments; 
• No social use should be made of Easy mail; 
• Staff and children’s Easy mail accounts will be monitored regularly; 

 

Web Site

 

• The point of contact on the Web site should be the school address, school e-mail and telephone number. Staff or pupils’ home information will not be published.
• Web site photographs that include pupils will be selected carefully and will not enable individual pupils to be clearly identified. ??
• Pupils’ full names will not be used anywhere on the Web site, particularly in association with photographs.
• Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school Web site??
• The Headteacher or nominee will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.
• The Web site should comply with the school’s guidelines for publications.
• The copyright of all materials must be held by the school, or be attributed to the owner where permission to reproduce has been obtained.

 

Social Networking and Personal Publishing

 

• Pupils will not be allowed access to public or unregulated chat rooms.
• Children should use only regulated educational chat environments. This use will be supervised and the importance of chat room safety emphasised.
• No staff to use Microsoft messenger or chat rooms;
• Pupils will be advised never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them or their location

 

Managing Videoconferencing 

 

§         Videoconferencing should use the educational broadband network to ensure quality of service and security rather than the Internet

§         Videoconferencing will be supervised

 

Protecting Personal Data

 

• Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the Data Protection Act 1998

 

Management of emerging Internet Applications

 

• Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and a risk assessment will be carried out before use in school is allowed.

 

Responsibility

 

Internet safety depends on staff, schools, governors, advisers, parents and, where appropriate, the pupils themselves taking responsibility for the use of Internet and other communication technologies such as phones. The balance between educating pupils to take a responsible approach and the use of regulation and technical solutions must be judged carefully.

 

 

 

 

Authorised Internet Access

 

• At Key Stage 1, access to the Internet will be by adult demonstration with occasional directly supervised access to specific, approved on-line materials. Classes will use a class ‘log on’ – consisting of a user name and password.
• All Key Stage 2 children will have an individual ‘log on’ – consisting of a unique user name and password. The children will have supervised Internet use at all times.
• Parents will be informed that pupils will be provided with supervised Internet access (letter for schools is included as an appendix). ??Will they need to sign it??
• The Kinson Primary School brochure will include details of the school’s policy on Internet usage.

 

 

Assessment of Risks

 

• In common with other media such as magazines, books and video, some material available via the Internet is unsuitable for pupils. The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of Internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Neither the school nor BBC can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of Internet access.
• The use of computer systems without permission or for inappropriate purposes could constitute a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
• Methods to identify, assess and minimise risks will be reviewed regularly.
• The headteacher will ensure that the E-safety and Internet policy is implemented and compliance with the policy monitored and effective.

 

Regulation

 

The use of a finite and expensive resource, which brings with it the possibility of misuse, requires regulation. In some cases, access within schools must simply be denied, for instance unmoderated chat rooms present immediate dangers and are usually banned. Fair rules, clarified by discussion and prominently displayed at the point of access will help pupils make responsible decisions.

 

• The school will work in partnership with parents, the LA, DfES and the Internet Service Provider (South West Grid for Learning) to ensure systems to protect pupils are reviewed and improved.
• If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites with inappropriate (containing adults) content the URL (address) and content must be reported to the Internet Service Provider via the ICT co-ordinator. (Headteacher must be informed immediately).
• If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites with illegal (containing adults and children) content the URL (address) and content must be reported to the Internet Service Provider via the ICT co-ordinator. (Headteacher must be informed immediately). The computer concerned should be left connected to the site and the electricity disconnected (the police have requested this to help investigation work). The base unit then needs to be secured for police collection, if necessary. (See Internet Safety Protocol flow chart within Safety and Security SWGfL Appendix 1).
• Rules for E-safety and Internet access will be posted in all rooms where computers are used and discussed with pupils at the start of each year. (Appendix II).
• Pupils and staff will be informed that network and Internet use will be monitored.
• Instruction in responsible and safe use should precede Internet access.
• All staff must read and accept the terms of the ‘Responsible Internet Use’ statement before using any Internet resource in school.
• The school will keep a record of all staff and pupils who are granted Internet access. The record will be kept up-to-date, for instance a member of staff may leave pupil’s access be withdrawn. (Access is only by a ‘Log on’ being created on the school curriculum network)
• All staff including teachers, supply staff, classroom assistants and support staff, will be provided with the School Internet Policy, and its importance explained.
• Staff should be aware that Internet traffic and inappropriate use of Internet facilities will be monitored (by SWGfL, ICT co-ordinator and the Senior Management Team) and traced to the individual user. Discretion and professional conduct is essential. (see SWGfL Internet Acceptable Usage Policy within Safety and Security, Appendix 1).
• Staff will not use MSN Messenger for any other chat rooms.
• The monitoring of Internet use is a sensitive matter. Staff who operate monitoring procedures should be supervised by senior management.
• The school ICT systems will be reviewed regularly with regard to security.
• Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly.
• Unapproved system utilities and executable files will not be allowed in pupils’ work areas or attached to e-mail.
• Files held on the school’s network will be regularly checked.
• Responsibility for handling incidents will be delegated to a senior member of staff.
• Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to the headteacher.
• Photographs that include pupils will be selected carefully and will not enable individual pupils to be clearly identified
• Pupils’ full name will not be used anywhere on the Web Site or Blog, particularly in association with photographs.
• Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before of pupils are published on the school Web Site

 

 

 

Appropriate Strategies

 

This document describes strategies to help to ensure responsible and safe use. They are based on limiting access, developing responsibility and on guiding pupils towards educational activities. Strategies must be selected to suit the school situation and their effectiveness monitored. There are no straightforward or totally effective solutions and staff, parents and the pupils themselves must remain vigilant.

 

• Parents’ attention will be drawn to the School E-Safety and Internet Policy in newsletters, the school brochure and on the school web site.
• A partnership approach with parents will be encouraged. This could include demonstrations, practical sessions and suggestions for safe Internet use at home.
• Interested parents will be referred to organisations such as PIN, Parents Online and NCH Action for Children (URLs in reference section), Thinkuknow.co.uk.
• Children will be taught about how to Stay Safe when using the Internet, in particular, when social networking and providing personal data to web sites. The Web Site  http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/  -for the younger children, http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/cybercafe/ for the older children. See below detail for specific Year 6 provision.  A CD-Rom entitled ‘KnowItAll’ (Childnet International) will be given to all parents??
• Year 6 Children will receive ‘Thinkuknow’ Training from CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection centre) Parents will be invited to attend the training. ??

 

The Internet Policy is part of the ICT Policy and School Development Plan and relates to other policies including those for behaviour, for personal, social and health education (PHSE) and for citizenship.

 

Review

 

This policy will be reviewed annually in line with the school’s policy review programme. It was redrafted and agreed by the staff on _______________________. The subject leader is responsible for reporting to the governors’ pupil and curriculum committee about the quality of its implementation and its impact on standards. In light of this policy amendments may be made. This happened on __________________.

 

A Newman

October 2007

 

Appendices

 

Safety and Security SWGfL (I)

Acceptable Usage Posters Key Stage 1 & 2 (II)

Internet Usage school (III)

Parent Consent letter for School Booklet(1V)

Staff Information Systems Code of Conduct (V)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix (11)

Internet Safety Posters

We will tell an adult when we see anything not suitable

 

Foundation & Key Stage 1

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Stage 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 111: Internet use - Possible teaching and learning activities

 

 

 

Notes on the legal framework

 

This page must not be taken as advice on legal issues, but we feel that schools should be alerted to so of the legislation that may be relevant.

 

The Computer Misuse Act 1990 makes it a criminal offence to gain access to a computer without permission. The motivation could be the technical challenge, data theft or to damage the system or data. The Rules for Responsible Internet Use remind users of the ownership of the school computer system.

 

Monitoring of data on a school network could contravene Article 8 of the European Contravention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, e.g. the right to respect for private and family life, which is protected by the Human Rights Act 1998. The Telecommunications (Lawful Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000 also limit monitoring. The 2000 Regulations apply to all forms of electronic monitoring and interception irrespective of whether the material monitored is generated by private use or in the course of the school’s day to day activities.

 

A school may only monitor authorised private use of a computer system if it can justify monitoring on the basis that is lawful, necessary and in the interests of amongst other things, the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Schools should ensure that the monitoring id not out of proportion to the harm that could be done if the monitoring did not take place. Schools should start by banning private use of a school’s computer system, but then allow private use following application to the Headteacher. The Rules for Responsible Internet Use, which every user must agree to, contain a paragraph that should ensure users are aware that the school is monitoring Internet use.

 

In order to defend claims that it has breached either the 2000 Regulations or the Human Rights Act 1998, a school should devise procedures for monitoring, ensure monitoring is supervised by a senior manager and maintain a log of that monitoring. The following legislation is also relevant:

 

Data Protection Act 1984/98 concerns date on individual people held on computer files and its use and protection.

 

Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 makes it an offence to use unlicensed software.

 

The Telecommunications Act 1984 section 43 makes it an offence to send offensive or indecent materials over the public telecommunications system.

 

Protection of Children Act 1978

 

Obscene Publications Act 1959 and 1964 defines ‘obscene’ and related offences.

 

 

 

 

Appendix (1V)

 

Responsible Internet Use at Kinson Primary School

All pupils use computer facilities at Kinson Primary School including Internet access as an essential part of learning, as required by the National Curriculum. Both pupils and their parents/carers are asked to sign to show the e-Safety Rules have been understood and agreed. 

Although there are concerns about pupils having access to undesirable materials, we have taken positive steps to reduce this risk in school.  Our school Internet provider operates a filtering system that restricts access to inappropriate materials.  This may not be the case at home and we can provide references to information on safe Internet access if you wish.  We also have leaflets from national bodies that explain the issues further.

Whilst every endeavour is made to ensure that suitable restrictions are placed on the ability of children to access inappropriate materials, the School cannot be held responsible for the nature or content of materials accessed through the Internet.  The School will not be liable for any damages arising from your child’s use of the Internet facilities.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of Internet use (or to see a lesson in operation) please telephone me to arrange an appointment.

 

Rules for Responsible Internet Use

These rules help us to be fair to others and keep everyone safe.

·      I will ask permission before using the Internet. 

·      I will use only my own network login and password, which is secret.

·      I will only look at or delete my own files.

·      I understand that I must not bring software or disks into school without permission.

·      I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved.

·      The messages I send will be polite and sensible.

·      I understand that I must never give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone.

·     I will ask for permission before opening an e-mail or an e-mail attachment sent by someone I do not know.

·      I will not use Internet chat.

·      I see anything I am unhappy with or I receive messages I do not like, I will tell a teacher immediately.

·      I understand that the school may check my computer files and the Internet sites I visit.

·      I understand that if I deliberately break these rules, I may not be allowed to use the Internet or computers.

The school may exercise its right to monitor the use of the school’s computer systems, including access to web-sites, the interception of e-mail and the deletion of inappropriate materials where it believes unauthorised use of the school’s computer system is or may be taking place, or the system is or may be being used for criminal purposes or for storing unauthorised or unlawful text, imagery or sound.

 

 

Pupil’s Agreement I have read and I understand the school Rules for Responsible Internet Use. I will use the computer system and Internet in a responsible way and obey these rules at all times.    Sign:                                                               Date:

Parent’s Consent for Internet Access I have read and understood the school rules for responsible Internet use and give permission for my son / daughter to access the Internet.  I understand that the school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure pupils cannot access inappropriate materials.  I understand that the school cannot be held responsible for the nature or content of materials accessed through the Internet.  I agree that the school is not liable for any damages arising from use of the Internet facilities.   Sign:                                                            Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix (V)

Staff Information Systems Code of Conduct 

 

To ensure that staff are fully aware of their professional responsibilities when using  information systems, they are asked to sign this code of conduct.  Staff should consult the school’s e‑safety policy for further information and clarification.  

·         The information systems are school property and I understand that it is a criminal offence to use a computer for a purpose not permitted by its owner.

·         I will ensure that my information systems use will always be compatible with my professional rôle.

·         I understand that school information systems may not be used for private purposes, without specific permission from the headteacher.

·         I understand that the school may monitor my information systems and Internet use to ensure policy compliance.

·         I will respect system security and I will not disclose any password or security information to anyone other than an appropriate system manager.

·         I will not install any software or hardware without permission.

·         I will ensure that personal data is kept secure and is used appropriately, whether in school, taken off the school premises or accessed remotely.

·         I will respect copyright and intellectual property rights.

·         I will report any incidents of concern regarding children’s safety to the school e‑Safety Coordinator or the Designated Child Protection Coordinator. 

·         I will ensure that any electronic communications with pupils are compatible with my professional rôle.

·         I will promote e-safety with students in my care and will help them to develop a responsible attitude to system use and to the content they access or create.

The school may exercise its right to monitor the use of the school’s information systems, including Internet access, the interception of e-mail and the deletion of inappropriate materials where it believes unauthorised use of the school’s information system may be taking place, or the system may be being used for criminal purposes or for storing unauthorised or unlawful text, imagery or sound.