Date accepted by governors: Autumn 2021                 

Review Date: Autumn 2024

Introduction

Safeguarding our children is a fundamental principle at Ash Grange School.  Technology and the internet is extensively used across all areas of the curriculum.  Online safeguarding, known as E-safety is an area that is constantly evolving and as such this policy will be regularly reviewed in light of monitoring and changes in guidance from local and national government. The E-safety policies in this document apply to technology in all form (desktop computers, laptops, iPads, mobile phones and any other internet enabled devices). The primary purpose of this policy is twofold:

• To ensure the requirement to empower the whole school community with the knowledge to stay safe and risk free is met.
• To ensure risks are identified, assessed and mitigated (where possible) in order to reduce any foreseeability of harm to the student or liability to the school.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

The school has an established culture that promotes and enhances the positive mental health of the whole school community, recognising that healthy relationships underpin positive mental health and have a significant impact on learning, health and wellbeing. We champion the expectation that ‘mental health is the individual’s responsibility supported by the whole school community.’

Teaching and learning

The Internet in the curriculum

• 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.
• The internet is used as a part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for staff and pupils, with age appropriate filters.

• Pupils will be taught what internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for internet use, so that they can be informed users and assess any risks or dangers.
• Pupils will be educated in the effective use of the internet in research, including the skills of knowledge location, retrieval and evaluation.
• Pupils will be shown how to publish and present information appropriately to a wider audience.
• Pupils will be taught how to use digital resources to meet their curriculum needs and be aware of associated risks and dangers.
• Pupils are taught about using the internet through the ‘Communicate’ strand of the Ash Grange computing curriculum and safe us of the internet through the ‘Careful’ strand of the Ash Grange curriculum.

Pupils will be taught how to evaluate Internet content

• The school will ensure that the use of internet derived materials by staff and by pupils complies with copyright law.

• Pupils will be taught to be critically aware of the materials they read and shown how to validate information before accepting its accuracy.
• Pupils will be taught how to report unpleasant Internet content e.g. turning off their screen and reporting it immediately.
• Pupils will be taught how to respond to received communications.
• Pupils will be taught digital literacy which will enable them better to understand the nature of misuse such as cyber-bullying and sexting. This will taught at age-appropriate level.

Managing Internet Access

Information system security

• School ICT systems security will be reviewed regularly.
• Virus protection will be updated regularly.
• All pupils’ access to the internet will be monitored by adults and responsible pupils.
• All access to the internet is logged to be available for auditing.
• Websites which are deemed to contain risks are blocked through our filter system
• iPad screens can be monitored live through the Apple Classroom app.

E-mail

• Pupils and staff may only use approved e-mail accounts on the school system (personal email accounts are not to be used or shared).
• Staff have ‘teacher’ account separate to named school account for e-mail communication with parents and children.
• Pupils must only use emails as part of directed learning tasks with accounts set up for this purpose.
• Pupils must immediately tell an adult if they receive offensive/inappropriate/prying e-mail.
• Pupils must not reveal personal details of themselves or others in e-mail communication, or arrange to meet anyone.
• Staff to pupil email communication must only take place via a school network or from within Office 365 (temporary pupil accounts) and will be routinely monitored.
• Everyone will treat as suspicious incoming e-mail and attachments where the author is unknown.
• The school will consider how e-mail from pupils to external bodies is presented and controlled.
• The forwarding of chain letters is not permitted.  

Remote Learning

• In the case of remote learning, lessons will take place through Microsoft Teams.
• All children will access lessons through a school assigned account which is password protected. Adults will also access Microsoft Teams through school account.
• All lessons will be recorded and available to watch back afterwards.
• Lessons are to be locked to a waiting room so that children cannot be in a live lesson without an adult present. 
• SLT members will be members of each class and can access all files, meetings and recordings.
• Staff to invite headteacher into live meeting if any concerns arise about a child’s safety during a lesson.
• Children to use Microsoft Teams channel for personal conversations with teaching staff, which can also be seen by SLT. Staff to monitor channels regularly.
• Children may only use chat function of Microsoft Teams under supervision and instruction of teacher. Staff to monitor chat for appropriate behaviours.
• Children to be reminded of expectations and protocols around safe use of Microsoft Teams at the start of any new period of online learning.

Published content and the school web site

• The contact details on the Web site will be the school address, e-mail and telephone number. Staff or pupils personal information will not be published.
• The Head Teacher will oversee and check all editing to ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.

Publishing pupil’s images and work

• Photographs that include pupils will be selected carefully and will not enable individual pupils to be clearly identified. 

• Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school Web site.
• Parents will be clearly informed of the school policy statement on image taking and publishing, both on school and independent electronic repositories e.g. at school performances.
  • Statement:  “Family members may take photographs/videos of their own children/relatives, if other children are part of the image you do not have the right to publish or use this image in any form, without parental authorisation.”

Social networking

• The school will not allow access to social networking sites, and will educate pupils who are transitioning to their usage as part of their induction to Secondary School.
• Pupils will be educated never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them or their location.
• Pupils and parents will be advised, through termly newsletters, publications and the website area.
• Parents are informed of their media responsibility when taking pictures/photos at an event.

Managing filtering

• The school has a filtering system to ensure age appropriate access to sites and information, to allow children to make informed safe choices through the teaching and learning provision.
• The filtering prevents risk to children from:

Content - being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material

Contact - being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users

Conduct - personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm. Access to terrorist, extremist or child exploitation sites that could cause harm to children’s development.

• If staff or pupils come across unsuitable on-line materials, the site must be reported to the E-safety Leader or Head Teacher.
• SLT/ E-safety Leader will ensure that regular checks are made to ensure that the filtering methods selected are appropriate, effective and reasonable.

Managing emerging technologies

• Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and a risk assessment will be carried out before use in school is allowed
• Cameras will only be used during lessons or formal school time as part of an educational activity.
• The sending of abusive or inappropriate text messages is forbidden.
• Mobile phones will only be used by accompanying adults (such as during trips) for health and safety reasons.
• Staff will use a school phone where contact with pupils/families/agencies is required.

Authorising Internet access

• All staff must read and sign the ‘Staff Code of Conduct for ICT’ before using any school ICT resource.
• The school will maintain a current record of all staff and pupils who are granted access to school ICT systems.
• At Key Stage 1, access to the Internet will be by adult demonstration with directly supervised access to specific, approved on-line materials.
• At Key Stage 2, children will use the internet according to the safety teaching as detailed earlier. 
• All parents complete a consent form upon entry to the School.
• Any person not directly employed by the school will be asked to sign an ‘acceptable use of school ICT resources’ before being allowed to access the Internet from the school site.
• Any parental training that uses internet access will require parents to complete a compliance form and have staff supervision.

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. Neither the school nor SCC can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of internet access. 
• 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 appropriate and effective.

Handling E-safety complaints

• Complaints of Internet misuse will be dealt with by a senior member of staff.
• Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to the Head Teacher.
• Complaints of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with school child protection procedures.
• Pupils and parents will be informed of the complaints procedure.
• Pupils and parents will be informed of consequences for pupils misusing the internet.

Communications Policy

Introducing the E-safety policy to pupils

• Appropriate elements of the E-safety policy will be shared with pupils.
• E-safety rules will be posted where computers are available for use by pupils.
• Pupils will be informed that network and internet use will be monitored.
• Curriculum includes the teaching of E-safety awareness in every year.
• Teachers will reinforce the message of how to use technology safely in all relevant lessons.
• E-safety links will be on the website, in termly newsletters and publications.

Staff and the E-safety policy

• All staff will be given the School E-safety Policy and its importance will be emphasised.
• Staff will be made aware that internet traffic can be monitored and traced to the individual user.  Discretion and professional conduct is essential.
• Staff that manage filtering systems or monitor ICT use will be supervised by senior management and have clear procedures for reporting issues.
• Software and website concerns are reported on the ICT concerns log and this is monitored by the subject lead who will resolve issues with SLT members.
• All staff’s use of technology is subject to monitoring.

Work devices outside of school

• Staff use of devices must meet the outlines set in the Staff Laptop Loan Agreement.   
• Staff must ensure that their work device is secure and password-protected, and that they do not share their password with others. They must take all reasonable steps to ensure the security of their work device when using it outside school.
• Any USB devices containing data relating to the school must be encrypted.
• If staff have any concerns over the security of their device, they must seek advice from the ICT network manager (Net Tech) or Computing Subject Leader

Enlisting parents’ support

• Parents’ and carers’ attention will be drawn to the School E-safety Policy in newsletters, the school brochure and on the school web site.
• Parents and carers will from time to time be provided with additional information on E-safety.
• The school will ask all new parents to sign the parent /pupil agreement before starting at the Children’s Centre or School.

Mobile phones in school

• Mobile phones are not to be visible or used by staff during working hours.
• All visitors to the school agree to not use mobile phones on premises when signing in.
• Only Year 6 pupils with permission to walk home and who walk a considerable distance or use public transport may bring a mobile phone which is switched off into school. It is then stored in the school safe during school hours.

Cyber Bullying

• Cyber bullying is a crucial aspect of E-safety and children will be taught about how to deal with this during PSHE and Computing lessons.
• Staff with remain vigilant for signs of cyber bullying and report and deal with any concerns as detailed in the Ash Grange Anti-Bullying Policy (2019-2022).
• Concerns will be logged on CPOMs and shared with parents.

Training

• All new staff and volunteers will receive appropriate training with regards to E-safety and will be made aware of the E-safety policy.
• Staff will receive E-safety training as part of the INSET schedule and additional as necessary in line changes to policy. 

Monitoring

• Any concerns about pupils’ behavior online will be logged on CPOMs and shared with parents as necessary.

Related Policies/Guidelines

Staff code of conduct

Staff Laptop Loan Scheme Agreement