
ST ILLTYD’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
E-SAFETY POLICY
Document Reference | POL-ESP-001 |
Date Approved | 01/09/2024 |
Review Date | 01/09/2028 |
Approved By | Adele Matthews (Acting Headteacher) |
RATIONALE
Technology has become integral to the lives of children and young people in today’s society, both within schools and in their lives outside school.
The Internet and other digital and information technologies are powerful tools, which open up new opportunities for everyone. Electronic communication helps teachers and pupils learn from each other. These technologies can stimulate discussion, promote creativity and increase awareness of context to promote effective learning. Children and young people should have an entitlement to safe Internet access.
The requirement to ensure that children and young people are able to use the Internet and related communications technologies appropriately and safely is addressed as part of the wider duty of care to which all who work in schools are bound. An E-Safety Policy should help to ensure safe and appropriate use.
The use of these exciting and innovative tools in school and at home has been shown to raise educational standards and promote pupil achievement. However, the use of these new technologies can put young people at risk within and outside the school. Some of the dangers they may face include:
Access to illegal, harmful or inappropriate images or other content
Unauthorised access to/loss of/sharing of personal information
The risk of being subject to grooming by those with whom they make contact on the Internet
The sharing/distribution of personal images without an individual’s consent or knowledge
Inappropriate communication/contact with others, including strangers
Cyber-bullying
Access to unsuitable video/Internet games
An inability to evaluate the quality, accuracy and relevance of information on the Internet
Plagiarism and copyright infringement
Illegal downloading of music or video files
The potential for excessive use which may impact on the social and emotional development and learning of the young person
Many of these risks reflect situations in the off-line world and it is essential that this E-Safety Policy is used in conjunction with other school policies (e.g., Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Safeguarding policies).
As with all other risks, it is impossible to eliminate those risks completely. It is therefore essential, through good educational provision, to build pupils’ resilience to the risks to which they may be exposed, so that they have the confidence and skills to face and deal with these risks appropriately.
The school must demonstrate that it has provided the necessary safeguards to help ensure that they have done everything that could reasonably be expected of them to manage and reduce these risks. The E-Safety Policy that follows explains how we intend to do this, while also addressing wider educational issues in order to help young people (and their parents/carers) to be responsible users and stay safe while using the Internet and other communications technologies for educational, personal and recreational use.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to all members of the school community, including staff, pupils, volunteers, parents/carers, visitors, community users, who have access to and are users of school ICT systems, both in and out of school.
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 empowers Headteachers, to such extent as is reasonable, to regulate the behaviour of pupils when they are off the school site and empowers members of staff to impose disciplinary penalties for inappropriate behaviour. This is pertinent to incidents of cyberbullying, or other E-Safety incidents covered by this policy, which may take place out of school, but is linked to membership of the school. The school will deal with such incidents within this policy and associated behaviour and anti-bullying policies and will, where known, inform parents/carers of incidents of inappropriate E-Safety behaviour that take place out of school.
Roles and Responsibilities
Governors
Governors are responsible for the approval of the E-Safety Policy and for reviewing the effectiveness of the policy. Mr Steve Doel is the named Governor responsible for Child Protection, which includes E-Safety.
Headteacher and Leadership and Support Team (LaST)
The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring the safety, including E-Safety, of members of the school community. The Headteacher is the named Designated Safeguarding Person, which includes a responsibility for E-safety.
The Headteacher and LaST are responsible for:
Leading our school E-safety initiative
Taking day-to-day responsibility of E-Safety issues and log any incidents
Ensuring that staff receive suitable professional development to enable them to carry out their E-Safety roles and to train other colleagues
Following correct procedure in the event of a serious E-Safety allegation being made against a member of staff
Network Manager – SRS (Shared Resource Services) Team - The school’s ICT is managed by SRS. They are responsible for:
Ensuring that the school’s ICT infrastructure is secure and is not open to misuse or malicious attack
Ensuring that the school meets the E-Safety technical requirements outlined in the relevant Local Authority E-Safety Policy and guidance
Ensuring that users may only access the school’s networks through a properly enforced password protection policy
Ensuring that the use of the network, remote access and email is regularly monitored in order that any misuse or attempted misuse can be reported to the Headteacher
All Staff are responsible for:
Ensuring that they have an up to date awareness of E-safety matters
Reading and adhering to the school’s E-safety policy and practices
Reading, understanding and signing the school Staff Acceptable Use Policy
Reporting any suspected misuse or problem to the Headteacher
Ensuring any digital communications with pupils are on a professional level and only carried out using official school systems
Ensuring that E-safety issues are embedded in all aspects of the curriculum and other school activities
Ensuring that pupils understand and follow the school E-safety and acceptable use policy
Monitoring ICT activity in lessons and extended school activities
Teaching children so that they have a good understanding of research skills and the need to avoid plagiarism and uphold copyright regulations
Ensuring pupils are aware of E-safety issues related to the use of mobile phones, cameras and hand-held devices and that they monitor their use and implement current school policies with regard to these devices
Using suitable Internet sites during planned lessons
Pupils
Are responsible for using the school ICT systems in accordance with the Pupil Acceptable Use Policy
Have a good understanding of research skills and the need to avoid plagiarism and uphold copyright regulations
Need to understand the importance of reporting abuse, misuse or access to inappropriate materials and know how to do so
Will be expected to know and understand school policies on the use of mobile phones, digital cameras and handheld devices
They should know and understand school policies on the taking/use of images and on cyber-bullying
They should understand the importance of adopting good E-Safety practice when using digital technologies out of school and realise that the school’s E-Safety Policy covers their actions out of school, if related to their membership of the school
Whilst regulation and technical solutions are very important, their use must be balanced by educating pupils to take a responsible approach. The education of pupils in E-Safety is therefore an essential part of the school’s E-Safety provision. Children and young people need the help and support of the school to recognise and avoid E-Safety risks and build their resilience.
E-Safety education will be provided in the following ways:
A planned E-Safety programme will be provided, which will cover both the use of ICT and new technologies in school and outside school
Key E-Safety messages will be reinforced as part of a planned programme of assemblies and class activities
Pupils should be taught in all lessons to be critically aware of the materials/content they access online and be guided to validate the accuracy of information
Pupils should be helped to understand the need for the Pupil Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and encouraged to adopt safe and responsible use of ICT, the Internet and mobile devices both within and outside school
Pupils should be taught to acknowledge the source of information used and to respect copyright when using material accessed on the Internet
All staff should act as good role models in their use of ICT, the Internet and mobile devices
Parents/Carers
Parents/Carers play a crucial role in ensuring that their children understand the need to use the Internet and mobile devices in an appropriate way. Research shows that many parents and carers do not fully understand the issues and are less experienced in the use of ICT than their children. The school will therefore take every opportunity to help parents understand these issues through meetings, newsletters, letters, website and information about national and local E-Safety campaigns.
Parents/Carers will be responsible for:
Endorsing the Pupil Acceptable Use Policy for pupils.
Accessing the school website and digital learning platforms (Seesaw/Google) in accordance with the relevant school Acceptable Use Policy.
The school will offer family learning courses in ICT and E-Safety so that parents/carers and children can together gain a better understanding of these issues. Messages to the public around E-Safety should also be targeted towards grandparents and other relatives as well as parents/carers. Everyone has a role to play in empowering children to stay safe while they enjoy these new technologies, just as it is everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe in the non-digital world.
Community Users
Community Users who access school ICT systems as part of the extended school provision will be expected to sign a Community User AUP before being provided with access to school systems.
Technical – infrastructure, equipment, filtering and monitoring
SRS (Shared Resource Service) will be responsible for ensuring that the school infrastructure and network is as safe and secure as is reasonably possible and that policies and procedures approved within this policy are implemented.
There will be regular reviews and audits of the safety and security of school ICT systems
Servers, wireless systems and cabling must be securely located and physical access restricted
All users will have clearly defined access rights to school ICT systems
All classes will be provided with a class log-on. All staff must be aware of the risks associated with not being able to identify any individual who may have infringed the rules set out in the policy and the AUP
Members of staff should never use a class log on for their own network access
Use of Digital and Video Images
The development of digital imaging technologies has created significant benefits to learning, allowing staff and pupils instant use of images that they have recorded themselves or downloaded from the Internet. However, staff and pupils need to be aware of the risks associated with sharing images and with posting digital images on the Internet.
When using digital images, staff should inform and educate pupils about the risks associated with the taking, use, sharing, publication and distribution of images. In particular they should recognise the risks attached to publishing their own images on the Internet, e.g., on social networking sites.
Staff are allowed to take digital and video images to support educational aims, but must follow school policies concerning the sharing, distribution and publication of those images. Those images should only be taken on school equipment, the personal equipment of staff should not be used for such purposes unless otherwise authorised.
Care should be taken when taking digital and video images that pupils are appropriately dressed and are not participating in activities that might bring the individuals or the school into disrepute. Pupils must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of others without their permission. Photographs published on the website, or elsewhere that include pupils will be selected carefully and will comply with good practice guidance on the use of such images. Pupils’ full names will not be used anywhere on a website or blog, particularly in association with photographs. General photographic permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school website.
Data Protection
Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the Data Protection Act, which states that personal data must be:
Fairly and lawfully processed
Processed for limited purposes
Adequate, relevant and not excessive
Accurate
Kept no longer than is necessary
Processed in accordance with the data subject’s rights
Secure
Only transferred to others with adequate protection
Staff must ensure that they:
At all times take care to ensure the safe-keeping of personal data, minimising the risk of its loss or misuse
Use personal data only on secure password protected computers and other devices, ensuring that they are properly ‘logged-off’ at the end of any session in which they are using personal data
Transfer data using encryption and secure password protected devices
When personal data is stored on any portable computer system, USB stick or any other removable media:
The data must be encrypted and password protected
The device must be password protected
The device must offer approved virus and malware checking software
E-Safety Education & Training
Education – Pupils
E-Safety at St.Illtyd’s is a focus in all areas of the curriculum and staff should reinforce E-Safety messages across the curriculum. The E-Safety curriculum should be broad, relevant and provide progression, with opportunities for creative activities and will be provided in the following ways:
A planned E-Safety programme which covers the use of ICT and new technologies both inside and outside school
Key E-Safety messages reinforced as part of a planned programme of assemblies
In all lessons using ICT, pupils are taught to be critically aware of the materials and content they access online
Pupils should be taught to acknowledge the source of information used and to respect copyright when using material accessed on the Internet
Education & Training – Staff
All staff receive E-Safety training and understand their responsibilities as outlined in this policy. E-Safety is an integral part of new staff induction. This training will be updated regularly and reinforced. An audit of the E-Safety training needs of all staff will be carried out regularly. Governors are invited to take part in E-Safety training and awareness sessions.
Communications
A wide range of rapidly developing communications technologies has the potential to enhance learning. The following table shows how the school currently considers the benefit of using these technologies for education outweighs their risks:
Staff & Other Adults | Pupils | |||||||
Communication Technologies | Allowed | Allowed at certain times | Allowed for selected staff | Not allowed | Allowed | Allowed at certain times | Allowed with staff permission | Not allowed |
Mobile phones may be brought to school | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of mobile phones in lessons | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of mobile phones in social time | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Taking photos on mobile phones or other personal camera devices | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of hand-held devices e.g., PDAs, PSPs | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of personal email addresses in school, or on school network | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of school email for personal emails | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of chat rooms / facilities | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of instant messaging | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of social networking sites | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Use of blogs | ✓ | ✓ |
When using communication technologies the school considers the following as good practice:
The official school email service may be regarded as safe and secure and is monitored
Staff and pupils should therefore use only the school email service to communicate with others when in school or on school systems
Users need to be aware that email communications may be monitored
Users must immediately report, to the nominated person – in accordance with the school policy, the receipt of any email that makes them feel uncomfortable, is offensive, threatening or bullying in nature and must not respond to any such email
Any digital communication between staff and pupils or parents/carers (email, chat etc.) must be professional in tone and content. These communications may only take place on official (monitored) school systems. Personal email addresses, text messaging or public social networking programmes must not be used for these communications
Pupils should be taught about email safety issues, such as the risks attached to the use of personal details. They should also be taught strategies to deal with inappropriate emails and be reminded of the need to write emails clearly and correctly and not include any unsuitable or abusive material
Personal information should not be posted on the school website and only official email addresses should be used to identify members of staff
Unsuitable and Inappropriate Activities
Some Internet activity, e.g. accessing child abuse images or distributing racist material is illegal and would obviously be banned from school and all other ICT systems. Other activities e.g. cyber-bullying is also banned and could lead to criminal prosecution. There are, however, a range of activities which may, generally, be legal but would be inappropriate in a school context, either because of the age of the users or the nature of those activities.
Responding to Incidents of Misuse
It is hoped that all members of the school community will be responsible users of ICT, who understand and follow this policy. However, there may be times when infringements of the policy could take place, through careless or irresponsible or, very rarely, through deliberate misuse.
Illegal Incident
If there is any suspicion that a website contains suspected illegal activity, refer to the right hand side of the flowchart below for responding to online safety incidents and report immediately to the police.
If members of staff suspect that misuse might have taken place, but that the misuse is not illegal, it is essential that correct procedures are used to investigate, preserve evidence and protect those carrying out the investigation. It is important that any incidents are dealt with as soon as possible in a proportionate manner, and that members of the school community are aware that incidents have been dealt with.
It is intended that incidents of misuse will be dealt with through normal behaviour and disciplinary procedures as follows:
Staff | Actions/Sanctions | |||||||
Incidents: | Refer to Line Manager | Refer to Headteacher | Refer to Local Authority | Refer to Police | Refer to Technical Support Staff for Action re filtering | Warning | Suspension | Disciplinary Action |
Deliberately accessing or trying to access material that could be considered illegal | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Excessive or inappropriate personal use of the Internet/social networking sites/instant messaging/personal email during school time | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Unauthorised downloading or uploading of files | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Allowing others to access school network by sharing username and passwords or attempting to access or accessing the school network, using another person’s account | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Careless use of personal data, e.g., holding or transferring data in an insecure manner | ✓ | |||||||
Deliberate actions to breach data protection or network security rules | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Corrupting or destroying the data of other users or causing deliberate damage to hardware or software | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Sending an email, text or instant message that is regarded as offensive, harassment or of a bullying nature | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Using personal email/social networking/instant messaging/text messaging to carry out digital communications with pupil | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Actions which could compromise the staff member’s professional standing | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Actions which could bring the school into disrepute or breach the integrity of the ethos of the school | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Using proxy sites or other means to subvert the school’s filtering system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Accidentally accessing offensive or pornographic material and failing to report the incident | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Deliberately accessing or trying to access offensive or pornographic material | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Breaching copyright or licensing regulations | ✓ | |||||||
Continued infringements of the above, following previous warnings or sanctions | ✓ |
Pupils | Actions/Sanctions | ||||||||
Incidents: | Refer to Class Teacher | Refer to LAST | Refer to Headteacher | Refer to Police | Refer to technical support for action | Inform parents/carers | Removal of network access rights | Warning | Further sanction, e.g., exclusion |
Deliberately accessing or trying to access material that could be considered illegal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Unauthorised use of non-educational sites during lessons | ✓ | ||||||||
Unauthorised use of mobile phone/digital camera/other handheld device | ✓ | ||||||||
Unauthorised use of social networking/instant messaging/personal email | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
Unauthorised downloading or uploading of files | ✓ | ||||||||
Allowing others to access school network by sharing username and passwords | ✓ | ||||||||
Attempting to access or accessing the school network, using the account of a member of staff | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
Corrupting or destroying the data of other users | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
Sending an email, text or instant message that is regarded as offensive, harassment or of a bullying nature | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Continued infringements of the above, following previous warnings or sanctions | ✓ | ||||||||
Actions which could bring the school into disrepute or breach the integrity of the ethos of the school | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Using proxy sites or other means to subvert the school’s filtering system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Accidentally accessing offensive or pornographic material and failing to report the incident | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Deliberately accessing or trying to access offensive or pornographic material | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Receipt or transmission of material that infringes the copyright of another person or infringes the Data Protection Act | ✓ |
Schedule for Development, Monitoring & Review
This E-Safety Policy was approved by the Governing Body on: | September 2024 |
The implementation of this E-Safety Policy will be monitored by: | Adele Matthews (Acting Headteacher) Kirsty Banks (Acting Deputy Headteacher) |
Monitoring will take place at regular intervals: | Termly |
The Governing Body will receive a report on the implementation of this E-Safety Policy: | Termly |
The E-Safety Policy will be reviewed annually, or more regularly in the light of any significant new developments in the use of the technologies, new threats to E-Safety or incidents that have taken place. The next anticipated review date will be: | September 2025 |
Should serious E-Safety incidents take place, the following external agencies will be informed: | Sarah Dixon – LA Safeguarding Officer Gwent Police Child Protection Team |
The school will monitor the impact of the policy using:
Internal monitoring data for network activity
Monitoring of SIMS Records of Discrimination
Surveys of pupils (e.g., CEOP survey www.thinkuknow.co.uk)
Surveys of staff
Information for parents/carers
Development, Monitoring & Review of this Policy
This E-Safety Policy has been developed by Kirsty Banks – Acting Deputy Headteacher