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 administration systems.
Internet use is part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for learning. It is an essential element in 21st century life for education, business and social interaction. Access to the Internet is therefore an entitlement for pupils who show a responsible and mature approach to its use. Our school has a duty to provide pupils with quality Internet access
Pupils will use the Internet 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;
- inclusion in the National Education Network which connects all UK schools;
- educational and cultural exchanges between pupils world-wide;
- access to experts in many fields for pupils and staff;
- access to learning materials through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
- 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 other schools and access to learning wherever and whenever convenient.
How can Internet Use Enhance Learning?
- The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and includes filtering appropriate to the age of pupils.
- 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 should guide pupils in on-line activities that will support 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.
Our children will be taught:
- to STOP and THINK before they CLICK
- to develop a range of strategies to evaluate and verify information before accepting its accuracy;
- 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 how to narrow down or refine a search;
- to understand acceptable 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, location, 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 know not to download any files – such as music files - without permission;
- to have strategies for dealing with receipt of inappropriate materials;
- to understand the impact of cyberbullying and trolling and know how to seek help if they are affected by any form of online bullying.
- to know how to report any abuse including cyberbullying; and how to seek help if they experience problems when using the internet and related technologies, i.e. parent or carer, teacher or trusted staff member, or an organisation such as Childline or the CLICK CEOP button.
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 information and administration systems.
Internet use is part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for learning. It is an essential element in 21st century life for education, business and social interaction. Access to the Internet is therefore an entitlement for pupils who show a responsible and mature approach to its use. Our school has a duty to provide pupils with quality Internet access
Pupils will use the Internet 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;
- inclusion in the National Education Network which connects all UK schools;
- educational and cultural exchanges between pupils world-wide;
- access to experts in many fields for pupils and staff;access to learning materials through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
- 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 other schools and access to learning wherever and whenever convenient.
How can Internet Use Enhance Learning?
- The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and includes filtering appropriate to the age of pupils.
- 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 should guide pupils in on-line activities that will support 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.
Our children will be taught:
- to STOP and THINK before they CLICK
- to develop a range of strategies to evaluate and verify information before accepting its accuracy;
- 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 how to narrow down or refine a search;
- to understand acceptable 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, location, 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 know not to download any files – such as music files - without permission;
- to have strategies for dealing with receipt of inappropriate materials;
- to understand the impact of cyberbullying and trolling and know how to seek help if they are affected by any form of online bullying.
- to know how to report any abuse including cyberbullying; and how to seek help if they experience problems when using the internet and related technologies, i.e. parent or carer, teacher or trusted staff member, or an organisation such as Childline or the CLICK CEOP button.
How will we ensure safety?
Authorised Internet Access
- The school will maintain a current record of all staff and pupils who are granted Internet access.
- All staff must read and sign the 'Acceptable ICT Use Agreement' before using any school ICT resource.
- Parents will be informed that pupils will be provided with supervised Internet access.
- Parents will be asked to sign and return a consent form for pupil access.
World Wide Web
- If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites, the URL (address), time, content must be reported to the the e-safety coordinator and ICT coordinator who can then filter or report it.
- School will ensure that the use of Internet derived materials by pupils and staff complies with copyright law.
- Pupils should be taught to be critically aware of the materials they are shown and how to validate information before accepting its accuracy.
- Pupils may only use approved e-mail accounts on the school system.
- Pupils must immediately tell a teacher if they receive offensive e-mail.
- Pupils must not reveal personal details of themselves or others in e-mail communication, or arrange to meet anyone without specific permission.
- Whole class, group and individual e-mail addresses will be used in school
- Access in school to external personal e-mail accounts may be blocked.
- E-mail sent to external organisations should be written carefully and authorised before sending, in the same way as a letter written on school headed paper.
- The forwarding of chain letters is not permitted.
Social Networking
Our school blocks access to social networking sites and newsgroups.
- Pupils will be advised never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them or their location
- Pupils should be advised not to place personal photos on any social network space.
- Pupils should be advised on security and encouraged to set passwords, deny access to unknown individuals and instructed how to block unwanted communications. Pupils should be encouraged to invite known friends only and deny access to others.
Filtering
The school will work in partnership with the South West Grid for Learning to ensure filtering systems are as effective as possible.
Published Content and the School Web Site
- The contact details on the Web site should be the school address, e-mail and telephone number. Staff or pupils personal information will not be published.
Publishing Pupils' Images and Work
- 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 or Blog, particularly in association with photographs.
- All children have been asked for permission for work and photographs to go onto the website/blog. All staff have access to this record and only children with permission will be allowed to have work or photographs published
Information Security Systems
- School ICT systems capacity and security will be reviewed regularly.
- Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly.
- Security strategies will be discussed with outside agencies
Protecting Personal Data
Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the Data Protection Act 1998.
Assessing Risks
- 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. The school cannot accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of Internet access.
- The school should audit ICT use to establish if the e-safety policy is adequate and that the implementation of the e-safety policy is appropriate.
Handling e-safety complains
- Complaints of Internet misuse will be dealt with by a senior member of staff.
- Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to the Headteacher.
- Complaints of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with school child protection procedures.
- Any concerns and worries should be discussed with the class teacher or safeguarding officers.
Communication of Policy
Pupils
- Rules for Internet access will be posted in all networked rooms.
- Pupils will be informed that Internet use will be monitored.
Staff
- All staff will be given the School e-Safety Policy and its importance explained.
- Staff should be aware that Internet traffic can be monitored and traced to the individual user. Discretion and professional conduct is essential.
Parents
- Parents' attention will be drawn to the School e-Safety days and strategies in newsletters, and on the school Web site.
Adapted from BECTA – E-safety 2005