E-Safety Policy

Internet Use for Children and Young People with SEN

Children with SEN are potentially more vulnerable and more at risk than others when using ICT:

• Those children with ASD may make literal interpretations of content which will affect how they respond.
• They may not understand some of the terminology used.
• Those with more complex needs do not always understand the concept of friendship and therefore trust everyone implicitly. They do not know how to make judgements about what information is safe to share.  This leads to confusion about why you should not trust others on the internet.
• Some children may be vulnerable to being bullied through the internet, or not recognize they are being bullied.
• They may not appreciate how their own online behaviour may be seen by someone else as bullying.

Teaching and Learning

• The school Internet access is designed expressly for pupil use and includes filtering appropriate to the needs of our students.
• Students will be taught what Internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for Internet use.
• Students will be educated in the effective use of the Internet.
• Parents will be supported by:
  •  Information on the safe use of the internet for their families where applicable
  •  A link to useful resources on our school website

Internet 

• The school ensures that the use of Internet derived materials by staff and students complies with copyright law.
• When possible, students will be taught how to report unpleasant Internet content to their class teacher, parent, carer

Information system security

• School ICT systems, capacity and security are reviewed regularly.
• The school’s network firewall is managed by our ICT support service.
• Virus protection will be updated regularly.
• Security strategies will be discussed with the Local Authority

E-mail

• Students are not given their own e-mail accounts on the school system, but where appropriate an approved email address for their use will be set up for curriculum purposes that is monitored at all times by the class staff.
• In an email communication, students must not reveal their personal details or those of others, or arrange to meet anyone without specific permission.
• E-mail sent to an external organisation should be written carefully and authorised before sending, in the same way as a letter written on school headed paper.
• The forwarding of chain letters is not permitted.

Published content and the school web site

• The contact details on the website are the school address, e-mail and telephone number. Staff or students’ personal information will not be published.
• The headteacher will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.

 Pupil’s images and work

• Photographs and videos that include students will be selected carefully and will not enable individual students to be clearly identified.
• Students’ full names will not be used anywhere on the website and associated social media sites, particularly in association with photographs and videos.
• Written permission from parents or carers for the use of photographs and videos on the website and associated social media sites is requested as part of the data collection and GDPR process.

Social networking (students) and personal publishing

• The school will block/filter student access to social networking sites by request to our ICT service provider
• The school will introduce students to school’s social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) in a safe and controlled manner.
• The students will be taught the dangers connected to social media sites and how to implement appropriate safety measures such as set passwords, deny access to unknown individuals and instructed how to block unwanted communications.
• Students will be advised never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them or their location.
• Students and parents will be advised that the use of social network spaces outside school brings a range of dangers for our students.

Managing filtering

• We use Sonicwall to allow us to identify and control all of the applications in use on the network.
• The school works with our ICT service provider to ensure systems to protect students are reviewed and improved.
• If staff or students discover an unsuitable site, it must be reported to the Headteacher.
• Our ICT service provider 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.
• The senior leadership team should note that technologies such as mobile phones with wireless internet access can bypass school filtering systems and present a new route to undesirable material and communications.

 The use of mobile phones

• Personal mobile phones will not be used during lessons or formal school time. The sending of abusive or inappropriate messages is forbidden either by text, bluetooth or any other means.
• Personal phones MUST NOT be used to take photographs/ videos of students. Classes will be issued with IPad’s for staff to access to take photographs/videos of the students.
• The use of mobile phones for curriculum use will be monitored at all times by the class staff.
• If staff need to contact students or parents school phone to be used or if not possible use own phone/mobile adding 141 before the number to ensure personal details of staff phone remain confidential.

Games machines

• Games machines, including the Sony Playstation, Microsoft X box, Nintendo Wii and others have Internet access which includes filtering.

Protecting personal data

• Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the most up to date Data Protection Act.

Legal Consequences

• All staff and volunteers who have access to online services through work networks should be reminded of the legal consequences attached to the inappropriate use of those services. Although this list is not exhaustive examples of inappropriate or offensive material include racist material, pornography, sexually explicit images, texts and related material, the promotion of illegal activity, or intolerance of others.

Assessing risks

• The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of Internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Neither the school nor Blackpool Council can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of Internet access.
• The school will audit ICT provision to establish if the e-safety policy is adequate and that its implementation is effective. 

Handling e-safety complaints

• Complaints of Internet misuse will be dealt with by the Headteacher
• Complaints of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with school child protection procedures.

Community use of the Internet

• The School Business Lead will provide guests with a 24 hr guest login if requested

Introducing the e-safety policy to students

• E-safety rules, in a format appropriate for our students, will be posted in classrooms and discussed with students as part of their learning, where appropriate.
• Students will be informed that network and Internet use is monitored.
• E Safety training will be embedded within the curriculum.
• Students are taught how to evaluate Internet content