Internet Safety Policy

This school has made significant investment in information technology and computer systems to support teaching and learning and to give learners the opportunity to seek information and carry out research. Access to the internet carries with it the danger that learners could find and view material that is unsuitable for them or that they could be put at risk from unwanted and inappropriate contacts. This policy seeks to ensure that the internet is used appropriately for learning but with safeguards to protect learners from harm.

Objectives

• To ensure that learners’ access to inappropriate sites and locations is restricted.
• To ensure that the use of the internet is for proper purposes related to the teaching, learning and curriculum of this school.
• To protect children from harm and upset that could be caused through giving them access to inappropriate sites, materials, images and contacts.
• To make learners aware that there are inappropriate sites that are harmful and which must be avoided in school and at home.
• To encourage learners to report immediately any inappropriate sites, materials or contacts that they find on the internet, either at school or at home.

Strategies

• Appropriate firewalls will be put in place and must be enabled at all times on all the school computers.
• Staff must always check that firewalls are in place before learners are allowed to access the internet.
• Staff must not under any circumstances, or at any time, disable- or bypass- firewalls on any school-owned computer.
• Learners must be supervised by adults at all times when they are given access to the internet.
• Staff must only use computers for school purposes. School computers used by staff at home or in school must not be modified or used for personal use.
• If learners bring digitally stored information into school on disk or on pen drive or by other means, staff must check the suitability of the information before it is played on school computers.
• Learners must be encouraged to notify staff if, they at any time, they come across unsuitable material on a computer.
• Staff must notify the Headteacher immediately if they find unsuitable or inappropriate material on a computer or storage device.
• Spot checks and audits will be carried out from time-to-time to ensure that computers are being used appropriately.

Outcomes

Learners and staff will be able to enjoy and use the school computers to enhance teaching, learning and the curriculum and to access useful educational information and materials, without risk of harm or upset.

Revised and adopted by the Governing Body ....2013.....