Policy and Procedure No.6

E–Safety

(inc. all electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities)

Online Safety

At Millfield Pre-School we realise it is important that children and young people receive consistent messages about the safe use of technology and can recognise and manage the risks posed in both the real and the virtual world.

Terms such as ‘e-safety’, ‘online’, ‘communication technologies’ and ‘digital technologies’ refer to fixed and mobile technologies that adults and children may encounter, now and in the future, which allow them access to content and communications that could raise issues or pose risks; the issues are:

Content – being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material

Contact – being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users

Conduct – personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm

I.C.T Equipment

The setting manager ensures that all computers have up-to-date virus protection installed.
Tablets are only used by educators for the purposes of observation, assessment, and planning and to take photographs for individual children’s learning journeys.
Tablets remain on the premises and are always stored securely when not in use.
Staff follow the additional guidance provided with the system

Internet access

Children never have unsupervised access to the internet.
The setting manager ensures that risk assessments in relation to e-safety are completed.
Only reputable sites with a focus on early learning are used (e.g. CBeebies).
Video sharing sites such as YouTube are not accessed due to the risk of inappropriate content.
Children are taught the following stay safe principles in an age-appropriate way:
only go online with a grown up
be kind online and keep information about me safely
only press buttons on the internet to things I understand
tell a grown up if something makes me unhappy on the internet
Staff support children’s resilience in relation to issues they may face online, and address issues such as staying safe, appropriate friendships, asking for help if unsure, not keeping secrets as part of social and emotional development in age-appropriate ways.
All computers for use by children are sited in an area clearly visible to staff.
Staff report any suspicious or offensive material, including material which may incite racism, bullying or discrimination to the Internet Watch Foundation at iwf.org.uk.

The setting manager ensures staff have access to age-appropriate resources to enable them to assist children to use the internet safely.

Strategies to minimise risk include:

Check apps, websites and search results before using them with children.
Children in Early Years should always be supervised when accessing the internet.
Ensure safety modes and filters are applied – default settings tend not to ensure a high level of privacy or security. But remember you still need to supervise children closely.
Role model safe behaviour and privacy awareness. Talk to children about safe use, for example ask permission before taking a child’s picture even if parental consent has been given.
Make use of home visits to inform your understanding of how technology is used within the home and the context of the child with regards to technology.
Check privacy settings to make sure personal data is not being shared inadvertently or inappropriately. (source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety

Personal mobile phones – staff and visitors (includes internet enabled devices)

Personal mobile phones and internet enabled devices are not used by staff during working hoursis does not include breaks where personal mobiles may be used off the premises or in a safe place e,g, staff room. The setting manager completes a risk assessment for where they can be used safely.
Personal mobile phones are stored in lockers or a locked office drawer.
In an emergency, personal mobile phones may be used in the privacy of the office or staff room with permission.
Staff ensure that contact details of the setting are known to family and people who may need to contact them in an emergency.
Staff do not take their mobile phones on outings.
Members of staff do not use personal equipment to take photographs of children.
Parents/carers and visitors do not use their mobile phones on the premises. There is an exception if a visitor’s company/organisation operates a policy that requires contact with their office periodically throughout the day. Visitors are advised of a private space where they can use their mobile.
The Lead Practitioner/Manager or Deputy Manager may carry the MPS mobile phone with them. This mobile phone has no camera or recording facilities. This mobile phone can be used during the session by staff provided it is for pre-school business and staff to children ratios are maintained.
The Lead Practitioner/Manager must ensure parents/carers are aware of the Pre-school mobile telephone number.
Pre-school emergency only mobile telephone is 07444 035314. This number is only to be used if you have difficulties contacting pre-school by landline and are unable to leave an answerphone message, or in the event of a power failure.

General MPS E-safety

Personal cameras are only to be used on official Pre-school events when authorised by senior staff and in agreement with all parents/carers at these events. We also express the importance that no other child’s image should appear on another parents/carers social networking site. In the event of this, senior staff shall speak to the individual concerned and make instruction for its instant removal. Should the individual not adhere to this request then further legal action by the Pre-school shall be taken.
Written consent is obtained from all parents/carers prior to their child/ren’s start date for photographic evidence to be used in their child/ren’s online learning journal (Tapestry). Should children’s photographs/images be needed for publicity use (i.e our website and/or press releases)then consent is also received prior to start date. If parents/carers do not wish for their children to be featured on social media, this is respected.
All photographs/images stored on tablets/settings computer are password protected. Photographs/images taken within the setting on a daily basis supporting each child’s Tapestry Journal and inside displays are removed from the tablets/pre-school camera at the end of half term.
Tablets used for maintaining Tapestry Journals are securely kept within Pre-school premises at all times, and updated weekly within the settings environment. Tapestry Journal/s for your child/ren can be accessed by parent/carers at any time using personal technology.
Only smart watches without cameras are permitted in the setting and are to be worn purely to perform the function of a watch. The following steps must be adhered to when wearing smart watches without cameras:
All other functions must be disabled with Bluetooth disconnected or on ‘flight mode’ or on silent.
Smart watches must not connect to the settings WiFi.
With ongoing technology advances, the setting reserves the rights to request the removal of a Smart Watch if it is deemed a safeguarding risk.
It is never appropriate for staff, committee members and parents/carers to name or otherwise identify any child or family that they know on a social networking site and it is never appropriate to post pictures of, or to discuss or comment on a child or family within the setting.