Internet
An Internet Access Policy for Shelf J & I School
Internet Access
· The purpose of Internet access in schools is to raise educational standards, to support the professional work of staff and to enhance the school?s management information and business administration approach.
· Access to the Internet is a necessary tool for staff and an entitlement for students who show a responsible and mature approach.
Benefits to school
The Government has set targets for ICT use in all schools by 2002 through the National Grid for Learning Initiative. 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 the worldwide 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 worldwide.
· News and current events.
· Cultural, social and leisure use in libraries, clubs and at home.
· 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.
Assessment of Risks
· In common with other media such as magazines, books and video, some material available via the Internet is unsuitable for pupils. The school will supervise pupils and take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of information available via the Internet, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a terminal. Neither the school nor CMBC can accept any liability for the material accessed, or any consequences thereof.
Internet Access
· Internet access is a part of planned lessons. It is an entitlement for pupils based on responsible use and will always be supervised.
· At KS1, access to the Internet will be by teacher or adult demonstration. Pupils will access teacher-prepared materials rather than the open Internet.
· At KS2, Internet access will be granted to a whole class as part of the scheme of work, after a suitable introduction to the rules of for responsible Internet use.
· Parents will be informed that pupils will be provided with supervised Internet access where it is important to their education.
Security of the school ICT system
· Virus protection will be installed and updated regularly.
· Personal floppy disks may be not brought into school without specific permission and a virus check.
The school will ensure that the Internet provides effective learning
· Internet access will be planned to enrich and extend learning activities as an integrated aspect of the curriculum.
· Pupils will be given clear objectives for Internet use.
· Internet access will be be purchased from a supplier that provides a service designed for pupils. This will include filtering appropriate to the age of pupils.
Assessment of Internet content
· Pupils will be taught to validate information before accepting it as true.
· Pupils will be taught to expect a wider range of content, both in level and in audience, than is found in the school library or on TV.
· Pupils will be encouraged to tell a teacher immediately if they encounter any material that makes them feel uncomfortable.
· Pupils are expected to use E-Mail as part of the National Grid for learning initiative;
· Pupils may send E-Mail as part of planned lessons but will not be given individual E-Mail accounts;
Publishing on the Web
· The web site will comply with the schools guidelines for publications;
· Pupils will be taught to publish for a wide range of audiences which might include governors, parents or young children;
· The point of contact on the web site will be the school address and telephone number. Home information or individual E-Mail identities will not be published.
· Photographs of identifiable individual pupils will not be published on the web site. Group photographs should not have a name list attached.
How the school will ensure Internet access is appropriate and safe.
· Staff will check that the sites selected for pupil use are appropriate for the age and maturity of the pupils;
· Access levels will be reviewed as pupil?s Internet use expands and their ability to retrieve information develops;
How complaints will be handled
· Responsibility for handling incidents will be given to a senior member of staff;
· Parents and pupils will need to work in partnership with staff to resolve any issue;
· If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites, the URL (address) and content will be reported the internet service provider;
How the staff, pupils and parents will be informed
· Rules for Internet access will be posted near computer systems.
· All staff, including teachers, supply staff, classroom assistants and support staff, will be provided with the Internet Access Policy, and its importance explained;
· Parents attention will be drawn to the policy in newsletters, the school brochure and on the school web site;
How the parent?s support will be enlisted
· A careful balance between informing and alarming parents will be maintained;
· Joint home/school guidelines on issue such as safe internet use will be established; Back to top
