Members of the Secondary
Strategy and ICT Advisory Support Team recently ran six
e-safety training sessions around Northumberland using material and
guidance from the Government's 'Child Exploitation and Online
Protection' Agency. These have been provided in addition to
courses offered last year in conjunction with North Tyneside Local
Authority and also those offered in County by the Northumberland
Safeguarding Children Board.
Schools will be aware of the importance placed on e-safety both locally
and nationally and the Local Authority is keen to focus on online safety
within schools and provide guidance and support to staff to ensure that
they feel confident in using the technology safely within teaching and
learning. Raising awareness among children and young people of the risks
associated with internet technologies is a responsibility for all of us
working in children's education and whilst not wishing to alarm anyone,
we want colleagues to review and refine their practice to ensure pupils
and staff are safe.
Recently we wrote to all
schools indicating that in order to accept Internet Services from the
Local Authority we would be setting a number of basic requirements which
we expect all schools to meet should they wish to continue to receive
Broadband and Internet from the County.
Click
here to access the circular letter sent
to schools on 7th September
The basic requirements for all schools are as follows:
All schools to have a
designated person responsible for e-safety.
That this person has
completed either the Local Authority e-safety training or the CEOPS
training through some other agency.
That schools complete a
return indicating that policies and procedures are in place in the
school and that training has been cascaded to all staff.
Schools have been circulated
with information on training courses available this term and these will
be supported with supply funding paid for by the Local Authority. To
continue to receive Internet schools need to meet the above requirements
by June 2008. The person designated as responsible for e-safety
doesn’t necessarily need to be the ICT coordinator and could well be a
senior member of staff or teacher responsible for child protection. Make
sure your school has the necessary plans and procedures in place and
that someone has attended the either the County or CEOPS training.
Our aim in this is not to catch schools out but to ensure that children
in schools are safe and staff have the training and support they need.
If you are having difficulty meeting these requirements or require
further information on the Northumberland e-safety courses contact John
Devlin, SEN/ICT Consultant
jdevlin@northumberland.gov.uk
Find out more...
Purely for Parents
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents
‘Purely for Parents’ is a unique resource that has
been developed specifically for parents by the Child
Exploitation and Online Protection centre.
The programme consists of an interactive
presentation, a script and notes for professionals
wishing to present it, FAQ’s and an engaging yet
simple leaflet.
The presentation
focuses on new and emerging technologies that
children and young people use to communicate with
each other, the potential risks they may face and
easy technical and lifestyle solutions which parents
can employ to help keep their children safe..
Increasingly, parents can feel isolated from their
children's online experiences. This package aims to
give parents the knowledge and guidance they need to
feel confident in helping their child stay safer by
making educated choices.
In this area you can download an awareness leaflet
and the 'Purely for parents guidance sheet'.
This resource can be delivered to parents within the
school environment.
In the 'Resource Area' you can download the:
'Purely for parents PowerPoint presentation' - this
can be delivered in parents evenings
'Parents fact sheet' - more info for parents.
North Tyneside have developed their
own
e-safety website, where you can view videocasts
from their 2006 E-safety conference.
You need to make sure that you have
an Acceptable Use Policy in place before you use Internet and Email in school.
This policy needs to be agreed and shared with staff, pupils, parents
and governors.
What is an Acceptable Use
Policy?
Follow these links to the
E-safety section of the Becta Schools website to find out
more