Internet Policy
RATIONALE
AIMS
GUIDELINES FOR USE
USE OF THE INTERNET AT HOME
USING E-MAIL
NEWTON ST CYRES PRIMARY WEBSITE
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
ACCEPTABLE USE STATEMENT
RATIONALE
The School?s Internet Access Policy is part of the school?s ICT Policy and ICT Development Plan. The purpose of Internet access in school is to raise educational standards, to support the professional work of staff and to enhance the school?s management information and business administration systems. Access to the Internet is a necessary tool for staff and students. Back to top
AIMS
A number of studies and government projects have indicated the benefits to be gained through the appropriate use of the Internet in education.These benefits include:
? Access to world-wide educational resources including museums and art galleries;
? Inclusion in government initiatives such as NGfL and the Virtual Teacher Centre;
? Information and cultural exchanges between students world-wide;
? Discussion with experts in many fields for pupils and staff;
? Staff professional development - access to educational materials and good curriculum practice;
? Communication with the advisory and support services, professional associations and colleagues;
? Exchange of curriculum and administration data with the LEA and DfEE.
Teachers, parents and pupils need to develop good practice in using the Internet as a tool for teaching and learning. There is a fine balance between encouraging autonomous learning and maintaining adequate supervision. In school, Internet access will be purchased from ECLIPSE, a service provider recommended for pupils in Devon Schools. This includes a filter system which prevents children from accessing unsuitable sites. This system is regularly updated but it must be acknowledged that it is not infallible as new sites are added to the web daily. Back to top
GUIDELINES FOR USE
Internet access is a necessary part of the statutory curriculum. It is an entitlement for pupils provided that they are able to demonstrate a responsible and mature approach. Parents will be informed that pupils will be allowed restricted Internet access and they will be asked to sign and return a copy of the rules for Internet use. Children will also be asked to sign this form, and the copy will be kept on the child's file.At Key Stage 1, the majority of the access to the Internet will be by teacher or adult demonstration. However there may be situations when children have supervised access to specific approved on-line materials.
At Key Stage 2, Internet access will be granted to a whole class or to small groups as part of their development of ICT skills. They will be expected to use teacher-directed sites in order to find curriculum information and they will be allowed to search the web to find information for individual research topics and other items of social interest to children.
Pupils in school are unlikely to see inappropriate content in books due to selection by publisher and teacher. This level of control is not so straightforward with Internet-based materials. Therefore, ICT teaching will be widened to incorporate Internet content issues, and children will be taught to avoid the tendency to use the Web when better information may be obtained from books. Pupils will also be taught ways to validate information before accepting that it is necessarily accurate.
However, it is recognised that it is difficult to remove completely the risk that pupils might access unsuitable materials via the school system. Whilst the school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on the screen. However, methods to identify, assess and minimise risks will be reviewed regularly and the Headteacher will work hard to ensure that the policy is implemented effectively. Back to top
USE OF THE INTERNET AT HOME
Internet use in pupils' homes is increasing rapidly, encouraged by offers of free software and access on magazine covers. Unless parents are aware of the dangers, pupils may have unrestricted access to the Internet. The school may be able to help parents plan appropriate, supervised use of the Internet at home. Demonstrations and practical ICT sessions for parents will be organised to encourage a partnership approach, and a careful balance between informing and alarming parents will be maintained. Back to topUSING E-MAIL
Pupils need to use e-mail as part of the National Curriculum 2000 Orders and it is becoming an essential means of communication within education. The government is encouraging the ownership of personal e-mail IDs for both teachers and pupils. However, we recognise that once e-mail is available it is difficult to control its content. To help counteract this, at Newton St Cyres School we have decided to set up class e-mail addresses with the clear understanding that their content should not be considered private. We feel that these whole-class e-mail accounts can be managed more safely within the time and resources available. In-coming e-mail will be regarded as public and may be examined by any teacher or child.Pupils will be made aware that the writer of an e-mail or the author of a Web page might not be the person claimed, and they will be encouraged to tell a teacher immediately if they encounter any material that makes them feel uncomfortable. The forwarding of chain letters will be banned. Back to top
NEWTON ST CYRES PRIMARY WEBSITE
We have a comprehensive website giving information about the school to a very wide audience. A Web site can celebrate pupils? work, promote the school and publish resources for projects or homework. Ground rules are important to ensure that the Web site reflects the school's ethos and that information is accurate and well presented. However, as the school's Web site can be accessed by anyone on the Internet, the security of staff and pupils must be considered carefully. The point of contact on the Web site will only be the school address and telephone number. Home information or individual e-mail identities will not be published. Care will be taken to ensure that photographs do not identify individual pupils. Group shots or pictures taken over the shoulder will be used in preference to individual ?passport? style images. Full names will not be used anywhere on the Web site, particularly alongside photographs.The address of our school website is: www.nscprimaryschool.ik.org Back to top
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
Prompt action will be taken if a complaint is made. The facts of the case will be established, and a pupil may have e-mail, Internet or computer access denied for a period of time depending on the nature of the incident. In the case of serious transgressions, the school's Behaviour policy will be implemented. Parents will be informed and they will be asked to work in partnership with staff to resolve any such issues.A copy of the Rules for Responsible Internet and Computer Use will be posted near computer systems.
Policy agreed at Premises and Curriculum meeting on 06 02 06
Policy to be considered for renewal during Spring Term 09 Back to top
ACCEPTABLE USE STATEMENT
The computer system is owned by the school and is made available to staff to enhance their professional activities including teaching, research, administration and management. The school's Internet Access Policy has been drawn up to protect all parties - the staff and the school.The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files that may be held on its computer system or to monitor any Internet sites visited.
? Access must only be made via the authorised account and password, which must not be made available to any other person;
? All Internet use should be appropriate to staff professional activity or student's education;
? Activity that threatens the integrity of the school ICT systems, or that attacks or corrupts other systems, is forbidden;
? Sites and materials accessed must be appropriate to work in school. Users will recognise materials that are inappropriate and should expect to have their access removed.
? Users are responsible for e-mail they send and for contacts made that may result in e-mail being received;
? The same professional levels of language and content should be applied as for letters or other media, particularly as e-mail is often forwarded;
? Posting anonymous messages and forwarding chain letters is forbidden;
? Copyright of materials and intellectual property rights must be respected;
? Legitimate private interests may be followed, providing school use is not compromised;
? Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is forbidden;
Staff should sign a copy of this Acceptable Internet Use Statement and return it to the Headteacher.
Full name ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? form/post ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? date ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Access granted ? ? ? ? ? ? ? date ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Back to top
The school has installed computers and Internet access to help our learning. These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.
? I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
? I will not access other people's files
? I will not bring floppy disks into school unless I have permission
? I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
? The messages I send will be polite and sensible
? I will not give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
? I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand that my report would be confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
? I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
PUPIL'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
PARENT/GUARDIAN'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The school has installed computers and Internet access to help our learning. These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.
? I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
? I will not access other people's files
? I will not bring floppy disks into school unless I have permission
? I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
? The messages I send will be polite and sensible
? I will not give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
? I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand that my report would be confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
? I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
PUPIL'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
PARENT/GUARDIAN'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The school has installed computers and Internet access to help our learning. These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.
? I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
? I will not access other people's files
? I will not bring floppy disks into school unless I have permission
? I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
? The messages I send will be polite and sensible
? I will not give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
? I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand that my report would be confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
? I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
PUPIL'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
PARENT/GUARDIAN'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The school has installed computers and Internet access to help our learning. These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.
? I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
? I will not access other people's files
? I will not bring floppy disks into school unless I have permission
? I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
? The messages I send will be polite and sensible
? I will not give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
? I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand that my report would be confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
? I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
PUPIL'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
PARENT/GUARDIAN'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The school has installed computers and Internet access to help our learning. These rules will keep everyone safe and help us be fair to others.
? I will ask permission from a member of staff before using the Internet
? I will not access other people's files
? I will not bring floppy disks into school unless I have permission
? I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
? The messages I send will be polite and sensible
? I will not give my home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone, unless my parent, carer or teacher has given permission
? I will report any unpleasant material or messages sent to me. I understand that my report would be confidential and would help protect other pupils and myself
? I understand that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the Internet sites I visit.
PUPIL'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ?
PARENT/GUARDIAN'S AGREEMENT
Signed ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Date? ? ? ? ? ? ? Back to top