Anti-Bullying
Our definition of bullying is –
“Bullying is behaviour by a group or individual, usually repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally.
Staff are trained through the Anti Bullying Alliance and other relevant training.
The governor with responsibility for Anti Bullying is Amy Furniss and our policy is available here.
The following links provide support and advice about bullying.
www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-parents-children-deal-bullying-cyberbullying/
www.bullying.co.uk
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/advice/parents-carers/
www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/Bullying.aspx
E-Safety
At Mickley First School we promote E-safety throughout the school year, through the school curriculum and with the whole school community. We take part in Internet Safety Day each year, raising the profile and make interactive resources which are accessible on our website. We also promote E-safety through specific lessons and through installing and using software to protect our students when online. We understand that parents & families are a key partners in E-safety and that it is not possible to totally protect our pupils from accessing harmful or inappropriate materials online. Our E-safety message is based on prevention and how to respond if things go wrong. Parents and families may not always understand the risks or how to respond so we have posted a link below that is a great starting point for understanding the risks and put measures in place at home as well as school. For specific information for children aged 0-5 yrs and 5 – 11 yrs, please follow the link. There is also further information for parents and families on using the internet safely here.
The important message from the conference was that all ages should learn about internet safety and that we whould be careful who we share information with.
Some other useful links on e-Safety awareness:
http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kcn/e-safety_home.cfm
www.nspcc.org.uk & www.ceop.gov.uk
As a school E-safety is taught in lessons and is promoted to the wider school community. We hold parent workshops, we are busy organising an E-Safety themed school council conference for our pyramid schools and the children learn about E-safety. Mr Hudson has attended NSCB training, updates from SWGFL, CEOP training and in the past we have invited Cate Haslam from Highfield Middle School to work with parents on internet anti-bullying strategies.
What is E-Safety?
E-Safety encompasses the use of new technologies, internet and electronic communications such as mobile phones, collaboration tools and personal publishing. It highlights the need to educate pupils about the benefits and risks of using technology and provides safeguards and awareness for users to enable them to control their online experience.
The school’s e-safety policy will operate in conjunction with other policies including those for Student Behaviour, Bullying, Curriculum, Data Protection and Security.
End to End e-Safety
E-Safety depends on effective practice at a number of levels:
· Responsible ICT use by all staff and students; encouraged by education and made explicit through published policies.
· Sound implementation of e-safety policy in both administration and curriculum, including secure school network design and use.
· Safe and secure broadband connections including filtering.
· National Education Network standards and specifications.
Teaching and learning
Why Internet use is important
· The Internet is an essential element in 21st century life for education, business and social interaction. The school has a duty to provide students with quality Internet access as part of their learning experience.
· Internet use is a part of the statutory curriculum and a necessary tool for staff and pupils.
Internet use will enhance learning
· The school Internet access will be designed expressly for pupil use and will include filtering appropriate to the age of pupils.
· Pupils will be taught what Internet use is acceptable and what is not and given clear objectives for Internet use.
· Pupils will be educated in the effective use of the Internet in research, including the skills of knowledge location, retrieval and evaluation
Pupils will be taught how to evaluate Internet content
· The school will ensure that the use of Internet derived materials by staff and pupils complies with copyright law.
· Pupils should be taught to be critically aware of the materials they read and shown how to validate information before accepting its accuracy.
Managing Internet Access
Information system security
· School ICT systems capacity and security will be reviewed regularly.
· Virus protection will be updated regularly by Northumberland NCC
· Security strategies will be discussed with Northumberland ICT Team
· Pupils may only use approved e-mail accounts on the school system.
· Pupils must immediately tell a teacher if they receive offensive e-mail.
· Pupils must not reveal personal details of themselves or others in e-mail communication, or arrange to meet anyone without specific permission.
· E-mail sent to an external organisation should be written carefully and authorised before sending, in the same way as a letter written on school headed paper.
· The forwarding of chain letters is not permitted.
Published content and the school web site
· The contact details on the website should be the school address, e-mail and telephone number. Staff or pupils’ personal information will not be published.
· The headteacher will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.
Publishing pupil’s images and work
· Photographs that include pupils will be selected carefully and will not enable individual pupils to be clearly identified.
· Pupils’ full names will not be used anywhere on the website, particularly in association with photographs.
· Written permission from parents or carers will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school website.
Social networking and personal publishing
· The school will block/filter access to social networking sites.
· Newsgroups will be blocked unless a specific use is approved.
· Pupils will be advised never to give out personal details of any kind which may identify them or their location.
· Pupils and parents will be advised that the use of social network spaces outside school is inappropriate for primary aged pupils.
Managing filtering
· The school will work with the LA, DfES and the Internet Service Provider to ensure systems to protect pupils are reviewed and improved.
· If staff or pupils discover an unsuitable site, it must be reported to the e‑Safety Coordinator.
· The e-Safety coordinator will ensure that regular checks are made to ensure that the filtering methods selected are appropriate, effective and reasonable.
Managing emerging technologies
· Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and a risk assessment will be carried out before use in school is allowed.
· Mobile phones will not be used during lessons or formal school time. The sending of abusive or inappropriate text messages is forbidden.
· Staff will be issued with a school phone where contact with pupils is required.
Protecting personal data
· Personal data will be recorded, processed, transferred and made available according to the Data Protection Act 1998.
Policy Decisions
Authorising Internet access
· All staff must read and sign the ‘Acceptable ICT Use Agreement’ before using any school ICT resource.
· At Mickley First School access to the Internet will be by adult demonstration with occasional directly supervised access to specific, approved on-line materials.
· Parents will be asked to sign and return a consent form.
Assessing risks
· The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of Internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Neither the school nor NCC can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of Internet access.
· The school will audit ICT provision to establish if the e-safety policy is adequate and that its implementation is effective.
Handling e-safety complaints
· Complaints of Internet misuse will be dealt with by a senior member of staff.
· Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to the headteacher.
· Complaints of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with school child protection procedures.
· Pupils and parents will be informed of the complaints procedure.
Communications Policy
Introducing the e-safety policy to pupils
· E-safety rules will be posted in all classrooms and discussed with the pupils at the start of each year.
· Pupils will be informed that Internet use will be monitored.
Staff and the e-Safety policy
· All staff will be given the School e-Safety Policy and its importance explained.
· Staff should be aware that Internet traffic can be monitored and traced to the individual user. Discretion and professional conduct is essential.
Enlisting parents’ support
· Parents’ attention will be drawn to the School e-Safety Policy in newsletters, the school brochure and on the school website.
Writing and reviewing the e-safety policy
The e-Safety Policy relates to other policies including those for ICT, bullying and for child protection.
· The school will appoint an e-Safety Coordinator.
· Our e-Safety Policy has been written by the school, building on the Kent e‑Safety Policy and government guidance. It has been agreed by senior management and approved by governors.
· The e-Safety Policy and its implementation will be reviewed annually.
Anti-bullying Leaflet for Parents and Children
