• 
  • Why write an e-safety policy?
  • What is e-safety?
  • How do I use the policy template and online generator?
  • Statement of authority
  • Responsibilities of school staff
  • Routes to e-safety - primary pupils
  • Routes to e-safety – secondary pupils
  • e-Safety for vulnerable children and young people
  • Response to an incident of concern
  • School responsibilities
  • Use of Social Media Tools as a school or establishment
• 
  • Notes on the legal framework
  • e-Safety Contacts, Resources and References
  • Acknowledgements
• 
  • Register to use
  • Information on how to get an account
  • Icons and symbols

Routes to e-safety - primary pupils

Despite precautions at school, open access to the Internet has become an integral part of many children’s lives. A growing danger is presented by the ease of uploading material to the web. We already have evidence from schools of primary pupils’ use — at home — of social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and Piczo, which allow children to set up an account and create a web page in minutes. Information given by users is not checked and there are very limited safeguards. It should be noted that most social networking and social media sites have age restrictions, typically 13+ and therefore their use should not be promoted within primary schools. Children are being encouraged (often by siblings) to look at or create their own sites and it is now widely regarded as an essential part of their social lives.

The following advice in applies in all settings: pupils should not upload photographs or videos of themselves or other pupils or staff without consent. They must not publish personal information, such as location and contact details and consideration should be given to advising pupils to use an anonymous nickname when logging into sites.

Identifying vulnerable groups

The use of handhelds, games consoles, Internet-enabled mobile phones and other technology both inside and outside of school is increasing rapidly. The most ICT capable may sometimes be the most vulnerable due to a lack of social and communication skills. Children who feel socially isolated may be more at risk from inappropriate online contact. Some children may not feel able to report a problem experienced online.

Using the Internet to support learning

Most Internet use in primary schools is safe, purposeful and beneficial to learners. There is always an element of risk: even an innocent search can occasionally turn up links to adult content or violent imagery. However, many teachers feel that there is a far greater problem in the amount of irrelevant, incomprehensible material typically yielded by Internet searches.

For the youngest pupils, the greatest risk is through inadvertent access. Fast broadband means that inappropriate images can appear almost instantaneously. Children can innocently follow a series of links and occasionally access undesirable content. A procedure should be agreed with all staff on what to do, and how to handle the situation with pupils.  For example: Close or minimise the image or window immediately. Don't try to navigate away. If pupils saw the page, talk to them about what has happened and reassure them. The incident should be logged and recorded by a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Parents should be notified if appropriate.

In view of the risks, we advise that primary pupils are supervised at all times when using the Internet. All staff should be aware that networked computers are generally online at all times when a user is logged on.

Search engines

We urge teachers to think very carefully about allowing primary pupils to use Internet-wide search engines such as Google. If Google is to be used at all, you must make sure that strict filtering is applied. Go to www.google.co.uk and click Preferences.

The BBC search engine is a safer approach for children: http://search.bbc.co.uk/  or www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/find/

Image searches are especially risky. There may be no need for pupils to download images if an adult downloads them before the lesson and stores them in a shared folder. Alternatively, teachers may use Microsoft’s clipart library, which automatically adds downloaded images to Clipart: http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/ or the NEN Gallery http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/  

For most curriculum-related research, there is no need to use an unfenced search engine; children could be directed to specific websites pre-selected by the class teacher. Safe and effective searching should be taught age appropriately as part of the ICT curriculum. At Key Stage One, this would be within a site e.g. BBC Schools or a Key Stage Two using a child-friendly search engine.

However, please note that NO filter-based search engine is completely safe.

Curriculum planning

Good planning and preparation is critical in ensuring a safe starting point for the development of web search skills and strategies. Tasks can be planned that do not require an Internet-wide search engine.

If the aim is to teach search skills, BBC Schools offers a safe environment. The search box automatically restricts the search to the BBC Schools site. There is no indication of age range, but pupils can judge readability from the example retrieved by a search within www.bbc.co.uk/schools . Importantly, primary pupils can learn skills such as selecting keywords to narrow down searches, and to evaluate materials in terms of their quality and relevance. This will prepare them for efficient, productive Internet research in the secondary phase.

Webquests contain direct links to support pupil research thereby eliminating the need to use a search engine. Some webquests simply consist of a list of questions. The questions are linked directly to sources (i.e. suitable websites) and offer a motivating means of engaging reluctant readers in ‘finding out’.  

Others are designed to support collaborative group activity. They encourage pupils to apply what they have found, leading to more effective learning. The webquests at WebQuestUK are linked to National Curriculum topics and QCA schemes of work. They offer a self-contained set of learning tasks with a defined outcome, such as recording a WWII evacuee’s diary or writing a Victorian school’s handbook. See: http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/

Any teacher able to produce a document in Word can create his/her own webquest! To place an active web link on the page, simply select and copy from the address bar in Internet Explorer, and paste into Word. To follow the link, press and hold the Ctrl key while you click on the link.

Some useful resources and suitable websites for the Primary Classroom can be found below.

e-Safety in Communication: www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_theme_esafety_comm.cfm

e-Safety in Research and e-Awareness: www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_theme_esafety_research.cfm   

Email

Most KCC primary schools use the email facility within Kent Learning Zone: https://portal.klz.org.uk  

For external email, there is no need for pupils to use individual accounts. A ‘class’ email address should be set up, and moderated by the teacher. Many schools ensure safety by arranging email exchanges as a class project. For examples and further advice see:  www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_ict_easymail.cfm

Primary aged pupils should not be using web-based email systems that are not moderated by the school and not approved by KCC. This includes email systems such as Hotmail or Googlemail as these could allow children to exchange potentially inappropriate content without school knowledge. 

Staff should not use home email accounts for school business. The Kent Learning Zone offers free email accounts to all staff in KCC primary schools. Staff using home email accounts for school business may place themselves in a difficult position as the data is not under their control and it is easier for social and school business messages to become mixed.

ICT subject leaders should keep their administrator account and password details in a safe place. Schools should ensure that more than one person has overall access to school email administrator accounts to avoid difficulties arising from staff being on leave, absent or no longer working with the school.

Teaching e-Safety

The Internet is an integral part of children’s lives, whether we like it or not. There are ways for pupils to experience the benefits of communicating online with their peers, in relative safety.

 The CEOP resources are a useful teaching tool for Key Stages One and Two looking at Internet safety and can be usefully incorporated into a PSHE or ICT programme. The Key Stage One area: Hector’s world  and "lee and Kim" and the Key Stage Two area “Cybercafé” both have fully developed lesson plans and teaching materials available to download:  www.thinkuknow.co.uk

SuperClubs Plus is a subscription Social Networking site available on www.superclubsplus.com Superclubs Plus enables pupils to access safe, moderated email in a closed group of over 100,000 pupils, registered by their schools. Key Stage 2 pupils are also able to set up home pages and join clubs, to share learning and interests. Pupils are encouraged to develop skills in website design and management, and to learn the protocols involved with safe chat.

Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”. Childnet have produced many materials to support the teaching of e-Safety at Key Stage One and Two. They have also produced materials for parents, staff and Secondary aged students. Their materials are available to access online or order from www.childnet.com

For Kent materials and advice on teaching e-Safety, please see:
www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_esafety_home.cfm and www.kentrustweb.org.uk?esafety

Page last updated: 06/05/2010

Site designed and developed by EIS, a business unit of Kent County Council