Introduction:

 

In St. Columb’s PS, we believe that the Internet and other digital technologies are very powerful resources which can enhance and potentially transform teaching and learning when used effectively and appropriately.  The Internet is an essential element of 21^st century life for education, business and social interaction.  This school provides pupils with opportunities to use the excellent resources on the Internet, along with developing the skills necessary to access, analyse and evaluate them.

 

The DENI circular 2007/1 on Acceptable Use of the Internet and Digital Technologies in Schools states that:

“Used well, digital technologies are powerful, worthwhile educational tools; technical safeguards can partly protect users, but education in safe, effective practices is a key goal for schools.”

This document sets out the policy and practices for the safe and effective use of the Internet in St. Columb’s PS.  The policy has been drawn up by the staff of the school under the leadership of the Principal.

 

 

How Valuable is the Internet in Education?

 

The Internet is a unique and exciting resource.  It brings the world into the classroom by giving children access to a global network of educational resources. 

 

• It gives children opportunities to locate, retrieve and exchange information.
• It encourages the development of ICT skills that are vital to life-long learning. 
• It takes learning beyond the classroom.

• It allows access to stores of information that might otherwise be unavailable in school.
• It provides up-to-date information.
• It is a fast and efficient way of communicating and retrieving information.
• It encourages independent learning.
• Children enjoy using it.

 

The Internet is increasingly forming part of our work, home, social and leisure activities.  There is no doubt that the use of the Internet is an essential skill for children as they grow up in the modern world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Code of Safe Practice

 

When using the Internet, email systems and digital technologies, all users must comply with all relevant legislation on copyright, property theft, libel, fraud, discrimination and obscenity. The Code of Safe Practice for St. Columb’s PS makes explicit to all users (staff and pupils) what is safe and acceptable and what is not.

The scope of the Code covers fixed and mobile Internet; school PCs, laptops, and digital video equipment.  It should also be noted that the use of devices owned personally by staff and pupils but brought onto school premises (such as mobile phones, IPADS or tablets etc) is subject to the same requirements as technology provided by the school.

Miss Carr will monitor the effectiveness of the Code of Practice, particularly in the light of new developments in technology.

 

Code of Practice for pupils

Pupil access to the Internet is through a filtered service provided by C2K, which should ensure educational use made of resources is safe and secure, while protecting users and systems from abuse.

The following key measures have been adopted by St. Columb’s PS to ensure our pupils do not access any inappropriate material:

 

•           Pupils using the Internet will normally be working in highly-visible areas of the school;

•           All online activity is for appropriate educational purposes and is supervised, where possible;

•           Pupils will, where possible, use sites pre-selected by the teacher and appropriate to their age group; and,

•           All pupils are educated in the safe and effective use of the Internet

• During school hours, pupils are forbidden to play computer games or access social networking sites, unless specifically assigned by the teacher. 

 

It should be accepted, however, that however rigorous these measures may be, they can never be 100% effective.  Neither the school nor C2K can accept liability under such circumstances.

 

Sanctions

Minor incidents will be dealt with by the Principal. Incidents involving Child protection issues will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s Child Protection procedures.

 

Code of Practice for Staff

Staff have agreed to the following Code of safe practice:

• Pupils accessing the internet should be supervised by an adult at all times
• Recommended websites for each year group are available under Favourites. Any additional websites used by pupils should be checked beforehand by teachers to ensure there is no unsuitable content and that material is age-appropriate
• Deliberate/accidental access to inappropriate materials or any other breaches of the code of practice should be reported immediately to the Principal
• Teachers are aware that the C2K system tracks all internet use and records the sites visited. The system also logs emails and messages sent and received by individual users.
• Teachers should be aware of copyright and intellectual property rights and should be careful not to download or use any materials which are in breach of these
• Photos of pupils should, were possible, be taken with a school camera and images should be stored in a centralised area on the school network, accessible only to teaching staff. If, in exceptional circumstances, a photo is taken on a mobile phone, it must be transferred to the school system as soon as possible and deleted from the phone
• School systems may not be used for unauthorised commercial transactions

 

Safety Awareness

 

We work hard in St. Columb’s PS to ensure we have a safe working environment for pupils and teachers using ICT resources. Pupils are supervised at all times when Interactive Whiteboards and digital projectors are being used. It is essential to educate all users in the safe and effective use of the internet and other forms of digital communication. We see education in appropriate, effective and safe use as an essential element of the school curriculum. This education is as important for staff and parents as it is for pupils.

 

Key Concerns are:

 

Potential Contact

Children may come into contact with someone on-line who may wish to harm them.  Some adults use chat rooms or e-mail to communicate with children for inappropriate reasons.

Children need to be taught:

 

• That people are not always who they say they are; 
• That “Stranger Danger” applies to the people they encounter through the Internet;  
• That they should never give out personal details; and,
• That they should never meet alone anyone contacted via the Internet.

 

Inappropriate Content

Through the Internet there are unsuitable materials in many varieties.  Anyone can post material on the Internet. 

 

• Some material is published for an adult audience and is unsuitable for children e.g. materials with a sexual content. 
• Materials may express extreme views.  E.g. some use the web to publish information on weapons, crime and racism which would be restricted elsewhere.
• Materials may contain misleading and inaccurate information. E.g. some use the web to promote activities which are harmful such as anorexia or bulimia.

 

 

Children need to be taught:

• That information on the internet is not always accurate or true;
• To question the source of information; and,
• How to respond to unsuitable materials or requests and that they should tell a teacher/adult immediately.

 

Excessive Commercialism

The Internet is a powerful vehicle for advertising.  In visiting websites children have easy access to advertising which is very persuasive.

 

Children should be taught:

• Not to fill out forms with a lot of personal details; and,
• Not to use an adult’s credit card number to order online products.

 

If children are to use the Internet in places other than at school e.g. – libraries, clubs and at home, they need to be educated about how to behave on-line and to discuss problems.

As part of the curriculum, children are taught how to behave whilst on line. The BEE SAFE programme and visitors such as NSPCC officials are invited in to the school to talk to the children about the dangers associated with the internet. Parents have also participated in ‘Safe Use of the Internet’ workshops facilitated by the NSPCC.

 

Cyberbullying

The greatly increased availability of mobile, internet and wireless technologies to pupils has provided increasing opportunities for misuse through what is now regularly referred to in the press and beyond as ‘cyberbullying’.  Cyberbullying has been defined as, “an aggressive, intentional act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself.”  There are seven categories of cyberbullying which are outlined below.

• Text message bullying involves sending unwelcome texts that are threatening or cause discomfort.
• Picture/video-clip bullying via mobile phone cameras is used to make the person being bullied feel threatened or embarrassed, with images usually sent to other people.  ‘Happy slapping’ involves filming and sharing physical attacks.
• Phone call bullying via mobile phone uses silent calls or abusive messages.  Sometimes the bullied person’s phone is stolen and used to harass others, who then think the phone owner is responsible.  As with all mobile phone bullying, the perpetrators often disguise their numbers, sometimes using someone else’s phone to avoid being identified.
• Email bullying uses email to send bullying or threatening messages, often using a pseudonym for anonymity or using someone else’s name to pin the blame on them.
• Chat room bullying involves sending menacing or upsetting responses to children or young people when they are in a web-based chat room.
• Bullying through instant messaging (IM) is an internet-based form of bullying where children and young people are sent unpleasant messages as they conduct real-time conversations online.
• Bullying via websites includes the use of defamatory blogs (web logs), personal websites and online personal polling sites.  There has also been a significant increase in social networking sites for young people, which can provide new opportunities for cyberbullying.

 

Cyber Bullying is addressed in our school’s Anti-Bullying Policy.  This policy will be regularly updated and teachers will have sufficient knowledge to deal with cyberbullying in school.

         

Digital and Video Images of Pupils

Parental permission is sought at the start of each school year to cover the use of photographs of pupils on the school Facebook account, in the local press and for displays etc within school and written permission must be obtained from parent/carer.

 

School Facebook

Our school Facebook promotes and provides up to date information about the school, as well as giving pupils an opportunity to showcase their work and other aspects of school life.  In order to minimise risks of any images of pupils on the school website being used inappropriately the following steps are taken:

• Group photos are used where possible, with general labels/captions;
• Names and images are kept separate – if a pupil is named their photograph is not used and vice-versa; and,
• The Facebook posts does not include home addresses, telephone numbers, personal e-mails or any other personal information about pupils or staff.

 

Storage of images

Digital and video images of pupils are, where possible, taken with school equipment.  Images are stored on a centralised area on the school network, accessible only to Teachers and Classroom Assistants.  Photographs of pupils are removed when they leave the school.

 

Social Software

Chatrooms, blogs and other social networking sites are blocked by the C2K filters so pupils do not have access to them in the school environment.

Instances of cyber bullying of pupils or staff will be regarded as very serious offences and dealt with according to the school’s Positive Behaviour policy and child protection procedures.  Cyber Bullying is included in the anti-bullying policy. 

Pupils are aware that any misuse of mobile phones/websites/email should be reported to a member of staff immediately.

 

Mobile Phones

St. Columb’s PS discourages pupils bringing mobile phones to school or on trips. In the rare event of pupils needing to have their mobile phone (Woodhall 4 day residential), the phones are in the possession of the lead teacher until required by the pupils and returned promptly to the lead teacher.

 

 

Steps We Take to Protect Children in School:

 

Use of a Filtered Service

Access to the Internet is provided through a filtered service.  All access is provided through the C2K service which is designed to filter out unsuitable material.

 

Supervision

No filtering service is 100% effective, therefore all children’s use of the Internet is supervised by an adult.   All e-communications used on the school site or as part of school activities off-site are monitored.

 

Planned Activities

Use of the Internet is a planned activity.  Aimless surfing is not allowed.  Children are taught to use the Internet in response to a need e.g. a question which has arisen from work in class. Websites are previewed by teachers and revisited to ensure that they are suitable for children’s curriculum needs and ability levels.

Search engines are used selectively.  Teachers will choose the search engine and topic and discuss sensible search words which have been tried out beforehand.

 

Restrictions on E-mail

Pupils do not have individual email access.

 

 

Points for Teachers to Consider

Internet use should be planned, task orientated and educational within a regulated and managed environment

• Supervision is the key strategy.  Children should have a teacher or classroom assistant present when using the Internet.  Computers should be positioned so that it is possible for adults to see materials on screen.

 

• Children should know why they are using the Internet.  Aimless surfing should never be allowed.  Teach children to use the Internet in response to a need. E.g. to answer a question which has arisen from work in class.

 

• Search engines require careful use and planning/supervision.  Children can be bombarded with information and yet fail to find the material they need.  Teachers should select the search engine and topic and discuss sensible search words which have been tried out beforehand.

 

• Children do not need thousands of website addresses.  A small appropriate choice is much more effective.  Favourites is a useful way to present this choice.  Sites should always be previewed and revisited to be checked out.  Consider off-line viewing.

 

• Discuss with pupils the rules for responsible Internet use.  It is not enough to protect children from materials, we must teach them to become Internet wise.   Children need to learn to recognise and avoid the risks.  Children need to know what to do if they come across inappropriate material or if they are approached by a stranger.

 

• Be informed – NGFL Superhighway Safety.  http://safety.ngfl.gov.uk

A useful website for staff is www.antibullying.net/cyberbullyingl.htm

 

• Discuss Internet Safety with colleagues and as a staff.  A useful website is: www.antibullying.net/cyberbullyingl.htm

 

 

Points for Parents to Consider

 

It is important to promote Internet Safety in the home and to monitor Internet use.

• Keep the computer in a communal area of the home.
• Ask children how the computer works.
• Monitor on-line time and be aware of excessive hours spent on the Internet.
• Take an interest in what children are doing.  Discuss with the children what they are seeing and using on the Internet.
• Advise children to take care and to use the Internet in a sensible and responsible manner. 
• Discuss the fact that there are websites which are unsuitable.
• Discuss how children should respond to unsuitable materials or requests.
• Remind children never to give out personal information on the Internet.
• Remind children that people on line may not be who they say they are.
• Be vigilant.  Ensure that children do not arrange to meet someone they meet on line.
• Be aware that children may be using the Internet in places other than in their own home or at school.

 

Filtering for the Home Computer

Parents may wish to invest in security software for their children’s computers.  Some of this software works by monitoring all Internet activity for trigger words.

There are many types of security software available. 

Examples include:

• Net Nanny, www.netnanny.com
• Cyber Patrol
• Surfwatch  www.safesurf.com

 

Or parents may wish to make use of the AOL children’s section at www.aol.com

 

Mobile Phones

Be aware of the safety issues regarding mobile phones as most of them now have Internet access. Encourage children to talk about how they use mobile phones.  Remind children not to give mobile numbers to strangers and people they do not know very well. Talk about responsible use of text messaging.