E-Safety
Below is our school's e-safety policy. We have also added our rules for using ICT equipment in school at the bottom of the page. These rules can also be used as a guideline in the home environment to ensure your children are safe when using the internet. Please also take a look at the CEOPS ThinkUKnow website which can be accessed from our Links page. This site provides a lot of info about staying safe online and games and activities aimed at various age groups.
John Grant School e-Safety Policy
Section A – Writing and reviewing of the e-safety policy
1.1.
The school will appoint an e-safety coordinator.
1.2.
The school’s e-safety policy will be written by the school, building on the NCC e-Safety Policy and government guidance. It has been agreed by senior management and approved by the governors.
1.3.
The e-safety policy and it’s implementation will be reviewed annually by the e-safety coordinator.
Section B – Teaching and learning
1. Why internet use is important :
1.1 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.
1.2 Internet use is part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for staff and pupils.
2. Internet use will enhance learning :
2.1 The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and
will include filtering appropriate to the needs of the curriculum.
2.2 Pupils will guided by staff about what Internet use is acceptable and what is not.
2.3 Pupils will be given clear objectives for internet use which are relevant to the learning outcomes planned for them.
2.4 Internet access and online activities will be planned to enrich and extend learning activities.
2.5 Staff should provide guidance to pupils in online activities in order to support learning outcomes planned for the pupil’s age, maturity and ability.
3. Pupils will be taught how to evaluate internet content :
3.1 The school will endeavour to ensure that the copying and use of internet delivered materials by staff and pupils complies with copyright law. Staff should guide pupils in this regard, where applicable.
3.2 Where pupils or staff use internet delivered materials in their own work, the source of the materials needs to be acknowledged to respect copyright. Where applicable to pupil’s work, staff need to guide pupils in this regard.
3.3 The evaluation of online materials and their use is applicable to all subjects.
Section C – Management of information systems and the internet
1. Security of information systems
1.1 The security of the school’s information systems will be reviewed regularly.
1.2 Virus and spyware protection will be installed and updated regularly. with scheduled scans at least once a week.
1.3 Security strategies will be discussed with ICT solutions.
1.4 Personal data sent over the internet must be encrypted.
1.5 Portable media such as USB flash drives not issued by the school may only be used with permission from the network manager or e-safety coordinator, and subject to a virus scan.
1.6 Unapproved system utilities and executable files should not be run on any computers belonging to the school without prior permission from the network manager or e-safety coordinator.
1.7 System capacity will be reviewed by the network manager regularly.
1.8 Login details for any information systems belonging to the school or used by the school should be kept secure and not shared.
2. Email
2.1 Pupils and staff may only use approved email accounts. This means only accounts provided by NCC (Esinet accounts or generic school email accounts).
2.2 Pupils should immediately tell a member of staff if they receive offensive or inappropriate email, and this should then be escalated to the network manager and senior management, as appropriate.
2.3 Staff and pupils should not send messages that may be offensive to the receiver. Forwarding of chain emails is also not permitted.
2.4 Pupils should not reveal personal information about themselves or others in email communications or arrange to meet anyone without permission from staff.
2.5 For security reasons, access to external email systems is blocked by our filtering systems.
2.6 Email sent to external organisations should be worded carefully and authorised before sending in the same way as a letter written on school headed paper.
2.7 Email subscriptions to websites or other electronic services sould be authorised.
2.8 For points 2.3, 2.4 and 2.6, staff should monitor pupil’s email use and check inboxes and outboxes from time to time to ensure that these points are adhered to and provide guidance to pupils where necessary.
3. Published content and the school website :
3.1 The contact details on the school website should be the school address, email and telephone number. Staff or pupil’s personal information must not be published.
3.2 The head teacher will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.
3.3 The website should comply with the school’s guidelines for publications including respect for intellectual property rights and copyright.
4. Publication of pupil’s images or work :
4.1 Images that include pupils will be selected carefully and will not enable individual pupils to be clearly identified.
4.2 Pupil’s full names will not be used anywhere on the website, particularly in association with photographs.
4.3 Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before images of pupils are electronically published.
5. Social networking and personal publishing :
5.1 The local authority will block access to inappropriate social networking sites.
5.2 Newsgroups will be blocked unless specific use is approved.
5.3 Pupils and staff are advised to never give out personal details of any kind that may identify themselves or others and/or their location.
5.4 Pupils and staff are advised to place only appropriate photos on any publically viewable social network space. They should consider using private areas for these types of photos. Care should also be taken to ensure that background detail in a photo does not contain any detail that could identify the pupil or staff member or his location, school, etc.
5.5 Staff should not communicate with students using public social networking sites.
5.6 Parental communication should be via official school email, letter or at parents evenings.
6. Management of filtering :
6.1 The school will work with ICT solutions to ensure that systems to protect pupils are reviewed and improved.
6.2 The school will be made aware of filtering profile changes by ICT solutions.
6.3 If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites, the URL must be recorded and reported to the network manager, who will then report it to ICT solutions.
7. Management of videoconferencing (when implemented) :
7.1 IP videoconferencing should always use the E2BN videoconferencing system rather than the internet to ensure quality of service and security.
7.2 Pupils should ask permission from a member of staff before making or answering a videoconferencing call.
7.3 Videoconferencing will be appropriately supervised for the pupil’s age.
7.4 Videoconferencing information should not be published on the school website.
7.5 The videoconferencing equipment should be made secure when not in use, and should not be taken off the school site.
8. Management of emerging technologies :
8.1 Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and a risk assessment will be carried out before use in school is allowed.
8.2 The view of the advisory service and ICT solutions will be sought before implementation of an emerging technology takes place.
8.3 Mobile phones may be used as part of lessons or formal school time. However, the sending of abusive or inappropriate text messages is forbidden and may be illegal.
9. Personal data protection :
9.1 Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the Data Protection Act 1998.
Section D – Policy decisions
1. Authorisation of internet access :
1.1 The school will maintain a current record of all staff members and pupils who are granted access to the school’s electronic communications.
1.2 All staff must read and sign the staff code of conduct for ICT before using any school ICT resources.
1.3 At key stage 1 and 2, access to the internet will be by adult demonstration with occasional directly supervised access to specific, approved online materials.
1.4 At key stage 3, 4 and FE, students can be given more autonomy when using the internet, but should be monitored by relevant staff when working on the internet or doing online tasks. Refer to section B point 2 for further guidance.
2. Risk assessment :
2.1 The school will take all reasonable precautions to prevent access to inappropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Neither the school nor NCC can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of internet access.
2.2 The school will audit ICT use to establish if the e-safety policy is adequate and that the implementation of the e-safety policy is effective.
3. Handling of e-safety complaints :
3.1 Where necessary, the complaints policy and disciplinary procedures will be followed.
3.2 Complaints of internet misuse by staff or pupils should be reported to the head teacher, e-safety coordinator or the network manager.
3.3 Complaints of a child protection nature should be directed to the child protection coordinator.
3.4 Pupils and parents will be made aware of the complaints procedure.
4. Internet use by pupils out in the community :
4.1 Students with access to computers outside school (e.g. on work experience) need to follow both the school’s e-safety policy and any policies applicable to the community establishment.
4.2 The school will liaise with community organisations and the e-safety group to establish a common approach to e-safety, where applicable.
4.3 The school will be sensitive to internet related issues esperienced by pupils outside of school and offer appropriate advice.
5. Internet use by the community in school :
5.1 Community users coming into school and using our ICT systems must adhere to the school’s e-safety policy. The e-safety policy should be made available to all visitors from outside the school if they are going to use the school’s ICT systems.
Section E – Communications policy
1. Introducing the e-safety policy to pupils :
1.1 e-Safety rules will be posted in all spaces where pupils have acess to computers, in symbol format so they are easily readable.
1.2 Pupils should be aware, where possible, that network and internet use will be monitored.
2. Introducing the e-safety policy to staff :
2.1 All staff will be given the e-safety policy and it’s importance will be explained.
2.2 Staff should be aware that internet traffic can be monitored and traced to individual computers. Discretion and professional conduct is essential.
3. Enlisting parent’s support :
3.1 The e-safety policy will be provided to parents by means of the website, newsletters and school brochure.
3.2 Parents will be encouraged to consult the school on e-safety issues that arise in school or outside of school.
