Online Safety Policy

1.  Aims

Our school aims to:  

• Have robust processes in place to ensure the online safety of pupils, staff, volunteers and governors.

• Deliver an effective approach to online safety, which empowers us to protect and educate the whole school community in its use of technology, including mobile and smart technology (which we refer to as ‘mobile phones’)

• Establish clear mechanisms to identify, intervene and escalate an incident, where appropriate.

The 4 key categories of risk

Our approach to online safety is based on addressing the following categories of risk:

• Content – being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful content, such as pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, anti-Semitism, radicalisation and extremism
• Contact – being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users, such as peer-to-peer pressure, commercial advertising and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit them for sexual, criminal, financial or other purposes
• Conduct – personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm, such as making, sending and receiving explicit images (e.g. consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nudes and/or pornography), sharing other explicit images and online bullying; and
• Commerce – risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and/or financial scam

2.  Legislation and guidance

This policy is based on the Department for Education’s statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and its advice for schools on preventing and tackling bullying and searching, screening and confiscation.  It also refers to the Department’s guidance on protecting children from radicalisation.

It reflects existing legislation, including but not limited to the Education Act 1996 (as amended), the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and the Equality Act 2010.  In addition, it reflects the Education Act 2011, which has given teachers stronger powers to tackle cyber-bullying by, if necessary, searching for and deleting inappropriate images or files on pupils’ electronic devices where they believe there is a ‘good reason’ to do so.

The policy also takes into account the National Curriculum computing programmes of study.

3.  Roles and responsibilities

3.1  The Governing Body

The Governing Body has overall responsibility for monitoring this policy and holding the Headteacher to account for its implementation.

The Governing Body will co-ordinate regular meetings with appropriate staff to discuss online safety, and monitor online safety logs as provided by the designated safeguarding lead (DSL).

All governors will:

• Ensure that they have read and understand this policy
• Agree and adhere to the terms on acceptable use of the school’s ICT systems and the internet (Appendix 2).
• Ensure that, where necessary, teaching about safeguarding, including online safety, is adapted for vulnerable children, victims of abuse and some pupils with SEND because of the importance of recognising that a ‘one size fits all’ approach may not be appropriate for all children in all situations, and a more personalised or contextualised approach may often be more suitable

3.2  The Headteacher

The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring that staff understand this policy, and that it is being implemented consistently throughout the school.

3.3  The Designated Safeguarding Lead

Details of the school’s designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputies are set out in our child protection and safeguarding policy.

The DSL takes lead responsibility for online safety in school, in particular:

• Supporting the Headteacher in ensuring that staff understand this policy and that it is being implemented consistently throughout the school.
• Working with the Headteacher, ICT coordinator and other staff, as necessary, to address any online safety issues or incidents.
• Managing all online safety issues and incidents in line with the school child protection policy
• Ensuring that any online safety incidents are logged and dealt with appropriately in line with this policy.
• Ensuring that any incidents of cyber-bullying are logged and dealt with appropriately in line with the school behaviour policy.
• Updating and delivering staff training on online safety.
• Liaising with other agencies and/or external services if necessary.
• Providing regular reports on online safety in school to the Headteacher and/or Governing Body.

3.4  The ICT Manager

The ICT manager is responsible for:

• Putting in place an appropriate level of security protection procedures, such as filtering and monitoring systems, which are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to assess effectiveness and ensure pupils are kept safe from potentially harmful and inappropriate content and contact online while at school, including terrorist and extremist material
• Ensuring that the school’s ICT systems are secure and protected against viruses and malware, and that such safety mechanisms are updated regularly.
• Conducting a full security check and monitoring the school’s ICT systems.
• Blocking access to potentially dangerous sites and, where possible, preventing the downloading of potentially dangerous files.
• Ensuring that any online safety incidents are logged and dealt with appropriately in line with this policy.
• Ensuring that any incidents of cyber-bullying are dealt with appropriately in line with the school behaviour policy.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

3.5  All staff and volunteers

All staff, including contractors and agency staff, and volunteers are responsible for:

• Maintaining an understanding of this policy.
• Implementing this policy consistently.
• Agreeing and adhering to the terms on acceptable use of the school’s ICT systems and the internet (Appendix 2), and ensuring that pupils follow the school’s terms on acceptable use (Appendix 1).
• Working with the DSL to ensure that any online safety incidents are logged and dealt with appropriately in line with this policy.
• Ensuring that any incidents of cyber-bullying are dealt with appropriately in line with the school behaviour policy.
• Responding appropriately to all reports and concerns about sexual violence and/or harassment, both online and offline and maintaining an attitude of ‘it could happen here’

This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

3.6  Parents

Parents are expected to: 

• Notify a member of staff or the Headteacher of any concerns or queries regarding this policy.
• Ensure their child has read, understood and agreed to the terms on acceptable use of the school’s ICT systems and internet (Appendix 1).

Parents can seek further guidance on keeping children safe online from the following organisations and websites:

• What are the issues?, UK Safer Internet Centre: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/what-are-issues
• Hot topics, Childnet International: http://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/hot-topics
• Parent factsheet, Childnet International: http://www.childnet.com/ufiles/parents-factsheet-09-17.pdf

3.7  Visitors and members of the community

Visitors and members of the community who use the school’s ICT systems or internet will be made aware of this policy, when relevant, and expected to read and follow it.

If appropriate, they will be expected to agree to the terms on acceptable use (Appendix 2).

4.  Educating pupils about online safety

Pupils will be taught about online safety as part of the curriculum.

In Key Stage 1, pupils will be taught to:

• Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private.
• Identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

Pupils in Key Stage 2 will be taught to:

• Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly.
• Recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
• Identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

By the end of primary school, pupils will know:

• That people sometimes behave differently online, including by pretending to be someone they are not
• That the same principles apply to online relationships as to face-to-face relationships, including the importance of respect for others online including when we are anonymous
• The rules and principles for keeping safe online, how to recognise risks, harmful content and contact, and how to report them
• How to critically consider their online friendships and sources of information including awareness of the risks associated with people they have never met
• How information and data is shared and used online
• What sorts of boundaries are appropriate in friendships with peers and others (including in a digital context)
• How to respond safely and appropriately to adults they may encounter (in all contexts, including online) whom they do not know

The safe use of social media and the internet will also be covered in other subjects where relevant.

The school will use assemblies to raise pupils’ awareness of the dangers that can be encountered online and may also invite speakers to talk to pupils about this.

5.  Educating parents about online safety

The school will raise parents’ awareness of internet safety in letters or other communications home, and in information via our website.  This policy will also be shared with parents.

Online safety will also be covered during parents’ evenings.

If parents have any queries or concerns in relation to online safety, these should be raised in the first instance with the Headteacher and/or the DSL.

Concerns or queries about this policy can be raised with any member of staff or the Headteacher.

6.  Cyber-bullying

6.1  Definition

Cyber-bullying takes place online, such as through social networking sites, messaging apps or gaming sites.  Like other forms of bullying, it is the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. (See also the school behaviour policy.)

6.2  Preventing and addressing cyber-bullying

To help prevent cyber-bullying, we will ensure that pupils understand what it is and what to do if they become aware of it happening to them or others.  We will ensure that pupils know how they can report any incidents and are encouraged to do so, including where they are a witness rather than the victim.

The school will actively discuss cyber-bullying with pupils, explaining the reasons why it occurs, the forms it may take and what the consequences can be.  Class teachers will discuss cyber-bullying with their classes, and the issue will be addressed in assemblies.

Teaching staff are also encouraged to find opportunities to use aspects of the curriculum to cover cyber-bullying.  This includes personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, and other subjects where appropriate.

All staff, governors and volunteers (where appropriate) receive training on cyber-bullying, its impact and ways to support pupils, as part of safeguarding training (see section 11 for more detail).

The school also sends information/leaflets on cyber-bullying to parents so that they are aware of the signs, how to report it and how they can support children who may be affected.

In relation to a specific incident of cyber-bullying, the school will follow the processes set out in the school behaviour policy.  Where illegal, inappropriate or harmful material has been spread among pupils, the school will use all reasonable endeavours to ensure the incident is contained.

The DSL will consider whether the incident should be reported to the police if it involves illegal material, and will work with external services if it is deemed necessary to do so.

6.3  Examining electronic devices

School staff have the specific power under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (which has been increased by the Education Act 2011) to search for and, if necessary, delete inappropriate images or files on pupils’ electronic devices, including mobile phones, iPads and other tablet devices, where they believe there is a ‘good reason’ to do so.

When deciding whether there is a good reason to examine or erase data or files on an electronic device, staff must reasonably suspect that the data or file in question has been, or could be, used to: 

• Cause harm, and/or
• Disrupt teaching, and/or
• Break any of the school rules

If inappropriate material is found on the device, it is up to the staff member in conjunction with the DSL or other member of the senior leadership team to decide whether they should:

• Delete that material, or
• Retain it as evidence (of a criminal offence or a breach of school discipline), and/or
• Report it to the police.

* Staff may also confiscate devices for evidence to hand to the police, if a pupil discloses that they are being abused and that this abuse includes an online element.

Any searching of pupils will be carried out in line with the DfE’s latest guidance on screening, searching and confiscation.

UKCIS guidance on sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people

Any complaints about searching for or deleting inappropriate images or files on pupils’ electronic devices will be dealt with through the school complaints procedure.

7.  Acceptable use of the internet in school

All pupils, parents, staff, volunteers and governors are expected to sign an agreement regarding the acceptable use of the school’s ICT systems and the internet (Appendix 1 and 2).  Visitors will be expected to read and agree to the school’s terms on acceptable use if relevant.

Use of the school’s internet must be for educational purposes only, or for the purpose of fulfilling the duties of an individual’s role.

We will monitor the websites visited by pupils, staff, volunteers, governors and visitors (where relevant) to ensure they comply with the above.

More information is set out in the acceptable use agreements in Appendix 1 and 2.

8.  Pupils using mobile devices in school

Pupils may bring mobile devices into school, where they are needed for contact before or after school, and they will be stored in a locked cupboard.  Pupils are not permitted to use mobile devices during the school day.

Any breach of the use of a mobile device by a pupil may trigger disciplinary action in line with the school behaviour policy, which may result in the confiscation of their device.

9.  Staff using work devices outside school

Staff members using a work device outside school must not install any unauthorised software on the device and must not use the device in any way which would violate the school’s terms of acceptable use, as set out in Appendix 2.

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 coordinator.

Work devices must be used solely for work activities.

10.  How the school will respond to issues of misuse

Where a pupil misuses the school’s ICT systems or internet, we will follow the procedures set out in the behaviour policy.  The action taken will depend on the individual circumstances, nature and seriousness of the specific incident, and will be proportionate.

Where a staff member misuses the school’s ICT systems or the internet, or misuses a personal device where the action constitutes misconduct, the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the staff disciplinary procedures.  The action taken will depend on the individual circumstances, nature and seriousness of the specific incident.

The school will consider whether incidents which involve illegal activity or content, or otherwise serious incidents, should be reported to the police.

11.  Training

All new staff members will receive training, as part of their induction, on safe internet use and online safeguarding issues including cyber-bullying and the risks of online radicalisation.

All staff members will receive refresher training at least once each academic year as part of safeguarding training, as well as relevant updates as required (for example through emails, e-bulletins and staff meetings).

By way of this training, all staff will be made aware that:

Technology is a significant component in many safeguarding and wellbeing issues, and that children are at risk of online abuse

Children can abuse their peers online through:

•   Abusive, harassing, and misogynistic messages
• Non-consensual sharing of indecent nude and semi-nude images and/or videos, especially around chat groups
• Sharing of abusive images and pornography, to those who don’t want to receive such content

Physical abuse, sexual violence and initiation/hazing type violence can all contain an online element 

Training will also help staff:

• develop better awareness to assist in spotting the signs and symptoms of online abuse
• develop the ability to ensure pupils can recognise dangers and risks in online activity and can weigh the risks up
• develop the ability to influence pupils to make the healthiest long-term choices and keep them safe from harm in the short term 

The DSL and deputies will undertake child protection and safeguarding training, which will include online safety, at least every 2 years.  They will also update their knowledge and skills on the subject of online safety at regular intervals, and at least annually.

Governors will receive training on safe internet use and online safeguarding issues as part of their safeguarding training.

Volunteers will receive appropriate training and updates, if applicable.

More information about safeguarding training is set out in our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.

12.  Monitoring arrangements

The DSL logs behaviour and safeguarding issues related to online safety.  An incident report log can be found in Appendix 4.

This policy will be reviewed every year by the IT coordinator and Headteacher.  At every review, the policy will be shared with the governing body.

13.  Links with other policies

This online safety policy is linked to our:

• Child protection and safeguarding policy.
• Behaviour policy.
• Staff disciplinary procedures.
• Data protection policy and privacy notices.
• Complaints procedure

Appendix 1

Pupil Acceptable Use Policy Agreement

This is how we stay safe when we use computers:

I will ask a teacher or suitable adult if I want to use the computers.

I will only use activities that a teacher or suitable adult has told or allowed me to use. 

I will take care of the computer and other equipment. 

I will ask for help from a teacher or suitable adult if I am not sure what to do or if I think I have done something wrong. 

I will tell a teacher or suitable adult if I see something that upsets me on the screen.

I know that if I break the rules I might not be allowed to use a computer.

Parent/Carer Acceptable Use Agreement

Digital technologies have become integral to the lives of children and young people, both within school and outside school.

These technologies provide powerful tools, which open up new opportunities for everyone.  They can stimulate discussion, promote creativity and stimulate awareness of context to promote effective learning.

Young people should have an entitlement to safe internet access at all times.

This Acceptable Use Policy is intended to ensure:

• that young people will be responsible users and stay safe while using the internet and other communications technologies for education, personal and recreational use.
• that school systems and users are protected from accidental or deliberate misuse that could put the security of the systems and users at risk.
• that parents and carers are aware of the importance of e-safety and are involved in the education and guidance of young people with regard to their online behaviour.

The school will try to ensure that pupils will have good access to digital technologies to enhance their learning and will, in return, expect the pupils to agree to be responsible users. 

A copy of the Pupil Acceptable Use Policy is attached to this permission form, so that parents/carers will be aware of the school expectations of the young people in their care. 

Parents are requested to sign the permission form to show their support of the school in this important aspect of the school's work.

Parent/Carer Acceptable Use Agreement

Permission Form

As the parent/carer of the above pupil, I give permission for my son /daughter to have access to the internet and to ICT systems at school.  

I know that my son/daughter has signed an Acceptable Use Agreement and has received, or will receive, e-safety education to help them understand the importance of safe use of technology and the internet - both in and out of school.

I understand that the school will take every reasonable precaution, including monitoring and filtering systems, to ensure that young people will be safe when they use the internet and ICT systems. I also understand that the school cannot ultimately be held responsible for the nature and content of materials accessed on the internet and using mobile technologies.

I understand that my son's/daughter's activity on the ICT systems will be monitored and that the school will contact me if they have concerns about any possible breaches of the Acceptable Use Policy. 

I will encourage my child to adopt safe use of the internet and digital technologies at home and will inform the school if I have concerns over my child's e-safety.

Use of Digital/Video Images

The use of digital/video images plays an important part in learning activities.  Pupils and members of staff may use digital cameras to record evidence of activities in lessons and out of school.  These images may then be used in presentations in subsequent lessons. 

Images may also be used to celebrate success through their publication in newsletters, on the school website and occasionally in the public media.

The school will comply with the General Data Protection Regulations and request parents/carers permission before taking images of members of the school.  We will also ensure that when images are published that the young people cannot be identified by the use of their names.

In accordance with guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office, parents/carers are welcome to take videos and digital images of their children at school events for their own personal use. To respect everyone's privacy and in some cases protection, these images should not be published/made publicly available on social networking sites, nor should parents/carers comment on any activities involving other pupils in the digital/video images.

Parents/Carers are requested to sign the permission form to agree and allow the school to take and use images of their children. 

Use of Digital/Video Images Permission Form

Please read the statements below and indicate your agreement and permission to each statement by ticking Yes or No as required.

You may withdraw any consents given at any time by contacting the School Office and informing them of your decision. 

Staff  and  Volunteer Acceptable Use Policy Agreement

School Policy

New technologies have 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 information and communications technologies are powerful tools, which open up new opportunities for everyone.  These technologies can stimulate discussion, promote creativity and stimulate awareness of context to promote effective learning. They also bring opportunities for staff to be more creative and productive in their work.  All users should have an entitlement to safe internet access at all times.

This Acceptable Use Policy is intended to ensure:

• that staff and volunteers will be responsible users and stay safe while using the internet and other communications technologies for educational, personal and recreational use.

• that school ICT systems and users are protected from accidental or deliberate misuse that could put the security of the systems and users at risk.

• that staff are protected from potential risk in their use of ICT in their everyday work.

The school will try to ensure that staff and volunteers will have good access to ICT to enhance their work, to enhance learning opportunities for students / pupils learning and will, in return, expect staff and volunteers to agree to be responsible users.

Acceptable Use Policy Agreement

I understand that I must use school ICT systems in a responsible way, to ensure that there is no risk to my safety or to the safety and security of the ICT systems and other users.  I recognise the value of the use of ICT for enhancing learning and will ensure that students / pupils receive opportunities to gain from the use of ICT.  I will, where possible, educate the young people in my care in the safe use of ICT and embed e-safety in my work with young people.

For my professional and personal safety:

• I understand that the school may monitor my use of the ICT systems, email and other digital communications.

• I understand that the rules set out in this agreement also apply to use of school ICT systems (e.g. laptops, email, VLE etc) out of school.

• I understand that the school ICT systems are primarily intended for educational use and that I will only use the systems for personal or recreational use within the policies and rules set down by the school.

• I will not disclose my username or password to anyone else, nor will I try to use any other person’s username and password.

• I will immediately report any illegal, inappropriate or harmful material or incident, I become aware of, to the appropriate person.

I will be professional in my communications and actions when using school ICT systems:

• I will not access, copy, remove or otherwise alter any other user’s files, without their express permission.

• I will communicate with others in a professional manner, I will not use aggressive or inappropriate language and I appreciate that others may have different opinions.

• I will ensure that when I take and / or publish images of others I will do so with their permission and in accordance with the school’s policy on the use of digital / video images.  I will not use my personal equipment to record these images, unless I have permission to do so.  Where these images are published (e.g. on the school website / VLE) it will not be possible to identify by name, or other personal information, those who are featured.

• I will not use chat and social networking sites in school.

• I will only communicate with students / pupils and parents / carers using official school systems.  Any such communication will be professional in tone and manner.  Further to this I will never give out my personal address, mobile phone number etc or that of other members of staff/school community without their express permission.

• I will not engage in any on-line activity either at home or in school that may compromise my professional responsibilities including but not limited to using social networking sites to discuss grievances relating to work or children, members of staff, comments, confidential matters or any activity that may bring the school into disrepute.

The school and the local authority have the responsibility to provide safe and secure access to technologies and ensure the smooth running of the school:

• When I use my personal hand held / external devices (PDAs / laptops / mobile phones / USB devices etc) in school, I will follow the rules set out in this agreement, in the same way as if I was using school equipment.  I will also follow any additional rules set by the school about such use.  I will ensure that any such devices are protected by up to date anti-virus software and are free from viruses.

• I will not use personal email addresses on the school ICT systems and only use my school email address for school business.
• I will not open any attachments to emails, unless the source is known and trusted, due to the risk of the attachment containing viruses or other harmful programmes.

• I will ensure that my data is regularly backed up, in accordance with relevant school policies.

• I will not try to upload, download or access any materials which are illegal (child sexual abuse images, criminally racist material, adult pornography covered by the Obscene Publications Act) or inappropriate or may cause harm or distress to others.  I will not try to use any programmes or software that might allow me to bypass the filtering / security systems in place to prevent access to such materials.

• I will not try (unless I have permission) to make large downloads or uploads that might take up internet capacity and prevent other users from being able to carry out their work.

• I will not install or attempt to install programmes of any type on a machine, or store programmes on a computer, nor will I try to alter computer settings, unless this is allowed in school policies or given specific permission.

• I will not disable or cause any damage to school equipment, or the equipment belonging to others.

• I will not transport, hold, disclose or share personal information about myself or others.

• Where personal data is transferred outside the secure school network, it must be secured in such a way that members of the general public cannot access it.

• I understand that data protection policy requires that any staff or student / pupil data to which I have access, will be kept private and confidential, except when it is deemed necessary that I am required by law or by school policy to disclose such information to an appropriate authority.

• I will immediately report any damage or faults involving equipment or software, however this may have happened.

When using the internet in my professional capacity or for school sanctioned personal use:

• I will ensure that I have permission to use the original work of others in my own work.

• Where work is protected by copyright, I will not download or distribute copies (including music and videos).

• I understand that I am responsible for my actions in and out of school.

• I understand that this Acceptable Use Policy applies not only to my work and use of school ICT equipment in school, but also applies to my use of school ICT systems and equipment out of school and my use of personal equipment in school or in situations related to my employment by the school.

• I understand that if I fail to comply with this Acceptable Use Policy Agreement, I could be subject to disciplinary action.  This could include a warning, a suspension, referral to Governors and / or the Local Authority, dismissal and in the event of illegal activities the involvement of the police.

I have read and understand the above and agree to use the school ICT systems (both in and out of school) and my own devices (in school and when carrying out communications related to the school) within these guidelines.

Appendix 3:

Tredworth Junior School

Staff & Volunteer Online Safety Training Needs - Self Audit

Please return to the School Office on completion.

Appendix 4:

Tredworth Junior School

Online Safety Incident Report Log

Return to the School Office on completion.