Our nursery is aware of the growth of
internet use and the advantages this can bring. However, it is also aware of
the dangers and strives to support children, staff and families in using the
internet safely.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
states “The breadth of issues classified
within online safety is considerable, but can be categorised into three areas
of risk:
ü content: being exposed to illegal,
inappropriate or harmful material;
ü contact: being subjected to harmful online
interaction with other users; and
ü conduct: personal online behaviour that
increases the likelihood of, or causes,
harm.”
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is
ultimately responsible for online safety concerns. All concerns need to be raised
as soon as possible to Sarah Magee or the senior member of staff responsible at the time.
Within the nursery we aim to keep
children (and staff) safe online by:
- Ensuring we have appropriate antivirus and
anti-spyware software on all devices and update them regularly
- Ensuring content blockers and filters are on
all our devices, e.g. computers, laptops and any mobile devices
- Keeping passwords safe and secure, not sharing
or writing these down.
- Ensure the IT department at St Mary’s College
monitor all internet activities in the setting
- Locking away all nursery devices at the end of
the day
- Ensuring no social media or messaging apps are
installed on nursery devices
- Management reviewing all apps or games
downloaded to tablets to ensure all are age appropriate for children and
safeguard the children and staff
- Using approved devices to record/photograph in
the setting
- Never emailing personal or financial
information
- Reporting emails with inappropriate content to
Paul Holmes at SMC who will contact the internet watch foundation (IWF www.iwf.org.uk)
- Ensuring children are supervised when using
internet devices
- Using tracking software to monitor suitability
of internet usage (for older children)
- Not permitting visitors access to the nursery
Wi-Fi
- Integrating
online safety into nursery daily practice by discussing computer
usage ‘rules’ deciding together what is safe and what is not safe to do
online
- Talking to children about ‘stranger danger’
and deciding who is a stranger and who is not, comparing people in real
life situations to online ‘friends’
- Provide training for staff at least annually
in online safety and understanding how to keep children safe online. We
encourage staff and families to complete a online safety briefing which
can be found at https://moodle.ndna.org.uk
- We abide by an acceptable use policy; ensuring
staff only use the work IT equipment for matters relating to the children
and their education and care.
- Under no circumstances should any member of
staff, either at work or in any other place, make, deliberately download,
possess, or distribute material they know to be illegal, for example child
sexual abuse material
- Children’s screen time is monitored to ensure
they remain safe online and have access to material that promotes their
development. We will ensure that their screen time is within an acceptable
level and is integrated within their programme of learning
- The nursery is aware of the need to manage our
digital reputation, including the appropriateness of information and
content that we post online, both professionally and personally. This is
continually monitored by the setting’s management.
All
electronic communications between staff and parents should be professional and
take place via the official nursery communication channels, e.g. the setting’s
email addresses and telephone numbers.
This is to protect staff, children and parents.
If
any concerns arise relating to online safety then we will follow our
safeguarding policy and report all online safety concerns to the DSL.
The
DSL will make sure that:
·
All staff know how to report a problem and when to escalate a
concern, including the process for external referral if they feel it is needed
·
All concerns are logged, assessed and actioned upon using the
Nursery’s Safeguarding procedure
·
Parents are supported to develop their knowledge of online safety
issues concerning their children via –
one to one interaction with staff
The nursery blog
The nursery app
Safety messages of the month
·
Parents are offered support to help them talk about online safety
with their children using appropriate resources
·
Parents are signposted to appropriate sources of support regarding
online safety at home and are fully supported to understand how to report an
online safety concern.
·
The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (0344 381 4772 or helpline@saferinternet.org.uk) is shared with all staff and
used if any concerns arise
·
Refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations-for-managers to ensure
all requirements are met in order to keep children and staff safe online
·
Share https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-guidance-for-practitioners with the
wider team to help them to keep themselves safe online, both personally and
professionally
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