Dear Parent
Parents' permission letter for use of computers and the Internet As part of the school?s ICT programme we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet. As part of our policy to allow use of the Internet, all pupils must now obtain parental permission. Both they and you must sign and return the enclosed form as evidence of your approval and their acceptance of the school rules on this matter.
Access to the Internet will enable pupils to explore thousands of libraries, sites and databases. Parents should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people. The school will use an Internet service which provides a means to filter the material that pupils can access. This service will attempt to deny access to offensive material on a regular basis however it can never guarantee that all the material available is entirely suitable. Where unsuitable material is discovered, the school will immediately have access denied.
Pupils who actively seek unsuitable material on the Internet will have their access to it removed on either a temporary or permanent basis. The school?s normal disciplinary procedures following from this, will be employed.
We believe that the benefits to pupils from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the school supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access.
During school, teachers will guide pupils toward appropriate materials. Outside of school, families bear the same responsibility for such guidance as they exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive media.
We would be grateful if you could read the enclosed guidance documents and then complete the attached permission form.
Yours sincerely
C Cozens
Headteacher |
|
| The Mount School ICT Policy |
The purpose of the ICT policy is firstly the safety of our pupils and secondly to protect our network from damage so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of having a properly functioning computer system.
The following rules apply when using the school computers: |
| |
• |
Pupils should only access the network using their own username |
| |
• |
Food and drink are forbidden near computers and must not be brought into any computer room |
| |
• |
Computer equipment should not be tampered with in any way. This includes unplugging or plugging in equipment |
| |
• |
The school filter is there for the protection of pupils and the network. It is strictly forbidden to try and bypass it by using a proxy server or by any other means |
| |
• |
The use of e-mail, messaging or communicating with people outside school is forbidden. This includes accessing sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Playing games is not allowed |
| |
• |
Pupils are not permitted to bring their own software into school or to attempt to download software from the internet |
| |
• |
The computers and printers should only be used for school work. Printing should be kept to a minimum and personal printing is not permitted |
| |
• |
Pupils are responsible for protecting and backing up their own work |
|
Any girl caught breaking these rules will have her computer use restricted to supervised lessons only.
The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files held on its network and to monitor internet sites visited by its users |
The Mount School Policy on the Use of the Internet |
Pupil access to the Internet
The school encourages use by pupils of the rich information resources available on the internet, together with the development of appropriate skills to analyse and evaluate such resources. These skills will be fundamental in the society our pupils will be entering.
On-line services significantly alter the information landscape for schools by opening classrooms to a broader array of resources. In the past, teaching and library materials could usually be carefully chosen. Internet access, because it may lead to any publicly available site in the world, will inevitably mean that pupils can see resources that the teacher may not have seen first.
Electronic information research skills are now a fundamental part of the preparation of citizens and future employees for the 21st Century. The school expects that staff will begin to investigate possibilities and blend the use of such information as appropriate within the curriculum and that staff will provide guidance and instruction to pupils in the appropriate use of such resources.
Use of the Internet at school in the future will only be permitted upon submission of permission and agreement forms by parents of pupils and by pupils themselves.
Access to on-line resources will enable pupils to explore thousands of libraries, sites and databases. The school believes that the benefits to pupils from access to information resources and increased opportunities for collaboration exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the school supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for use of the Internet.
The Head of ICT will prepare appropriate procedures for implementing this policy and for reviewing and evaluating its effect on teaching and learning.
Pupils, parents and staff can find out more about safe use of the Internet from the Internet watch Foundation at: www.iwf.org.uk |
School Procedures |
School Rules
The school has developed a set of guidelines for internet use by pupils. These rules will be made available to all pupils, and kept under constant review.
All members of staff are responsible for explaining the rules and their implications. All members of staff need to be aware of possible misuses of on-line access and their responsibilities towards pupils. |
Pupil Guidelines for Internet Use |
General
Pupils are responsible for good behaviour on the Internet just as they are in any other aspect of school life. General school rules apply.
The Internet is provided for pupils to conduct research. Parents? permission is required. Remember that access is a privilege, not a right and that access requires responsibility.
Individual users of the Internet are responsible for their behaviour and communications over the network. It is presumed that users will comply with school standards and will honour the agreements they have signed.
Computer storage areas on workstations will be treated like school lockers. Staff may review files and communications to ensure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on servers would always be private.
During school, teachers will guide pupils toward appropriate materials. Outside of school, families bear responsibility for such guidance as they must also exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive media. |
| The following are not permitted: |
| |
1. |
Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures |
| |
2. |
Using obscene language |
| |
3. |
Harassing, insulting or attacking others |
| |
4. |
Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks |
| |
5. |
Violating copyright laws |
| |
6. |
Using others' usernames |
| |
7. |
Accessing and /or deleting others' folders, work or files |
| |
8. |
Intentionally wasting limited resources |
| |
9. |
Using a CD ROM or DVD from home - USB sticks are the only acceptable way to bring in work from home |
|
Sanctions |
| |
1. |
Violations of the above rules will result in a temporary or permanent ban on Internet use |
| |
2. |
Additional disciplinary action may be added in line with existing practice on inappropriate language or behaviour |
| |
3. |
If applicable, police or local authorities may be involved |
|
Internet Parent Permission Form |
Please complete and return this form to the Head of ICT
Pupil
As a school user of the Internet, I agree to comply with the school rules on its use. I will use the network in a responsible way and observe all the restrictions explained to me by the school. I understand that the school monitors files and I agree that I will not access illegal or offensive material on any workstation.
Pupil Signature ____________________ Date: ___/___/___
Parent
As the parent of the pupil signing above, I grant permission for my daughter to use the Internet within school. I understand that pupils will be held accountable for their own actions. I also understand that some materials on the Internet may be objectionable and I accept a shared responsibility with the school for setting standards for my daughter to follow when selecting, sharing and exploring information and media. I agree that she must comply with the rules that apply to use of the school computers.
Parent Signature __________________________ Date ___/___/___
Name of Pupil ____________________________ Date ___/___/___
Form ___________________ |
A Parent's Guide to the Internet |
What is the Internet?
The Internet is a large number of computers all over the world linked together. In most cases, each of these computers is also linked locally to a number of other computers, in a local network. It is possible for someone using one of these computers to access information on any of the other computers. This system was established by those working in Universities and Government organisations for the fast and efficient transfer of largely text-based information around the world directly from one computer to another.
It is possible for other people, outside these local networks, to connect to the Internet by using standard telephone lines between their computers and those already connected to the Internet. A number of companies specialise in providing this service for a fee. |
What is the World Wide Web?
To make the appearance of information available through the internet more attractive, and to assist people in finding information more easily, it is now possible for special pages of information to contain text, colours, and pictures, sound and even video. These pages, collectively, make up what is known as the World Wide Web. Most of these pages include information on the location of other pages on the World Wide Web, and it is possible to follow up links between pages with similar or related content. Moving from one page to another, regardless of where in the world they might be located, is called browsing, or surfing the net or web. Many of these Web pages contain information that may be useful in the classroom, and it is presented in a way which is often easy to use. |
What is Electronic Mail (E-mail)?
This is merely a way of sending messages from one person to another via the Internet. Each internet user has a unique e-mail address (such as anybody@msn.com) and by sending a message to this address, the recipient can read the message the next time he or she connects to the internet. Internet e-mail addresses are usually provided along with a schools? connection to the internet and normally individual pupils will not have their own email address. |
What are News Groups?
These are collections of messages written for public readership rather than addressed to an individual. Each collection, or group, of messages is about a particular subject or theme. Individuals can reply to these messages, and these replies are also public. In this way it is possible to track a multi-way conversation about an important issue of the day. At present there are more than 10,000 different topics available for discussion, from specialist science research to support groups for asthma to fans of James Bond movies. Most of the press concern for pornography on the Internet refers to newsgroups but they are the easiest for school internet providers to police and remove. |
What are the dangers of the Internet referred to in the media?
It is true that there is some material on the Internet that would be offensive to most people, such as pornography, racist and fascist material, and this can be accessed by children if using the internet unsupervised. The main educational providers try to 'filter' known offensive locations of material of this kind, but there is too much for this filtering to be very effective, and the locations change frequently. The only way to block access to this kind of material is to have a restricted range of pages available, in which case many of the advantages of the global and dynamic nature of the internet may be lost. It is a feature of the Internet that the information available is free. Increasing restrictions will undoubtedly lead to systems of charging for access to specific material, in addition to the other costs described. An alternative system is to educate pupils and encourage an acceptable use policy and partnership between home and school in dealing with the less savoury side of internet use. Parents may wish to purchase their own access filters such as "Net nanny" or "Cyberpatrol"; there are many others.
It is strongly recommended that parents discuss the use of Chat Lines with their child if they intend to access these through the Internet and ensure that they never make arrangements to meet someone as a result of these communications or release personal information. |
Policy Pertaining to Members of Staff |
Staff access to the Internet
New staff are entitled to receive training in the use of the Internet through the school’s induction programme. The Head of ICT is responsible for this aspect of the induction programme.
Staff may wish to access the Internet for many purposes. Examples are:- |
| |
• |
To develop their teaching resources and / or to build their knowledge for supporting their teaching and learning |
| |
• |
To communicate electronically with a range of individuals linked to education and the school to support the daily operation of the school |
| |
• |
To receive educational publications or information of relevance to teaching and learning and / or the management of the school |
| |
• |
To use 'live' material on the Internet directly in their teaching material |
| |
• |
To use the Internet for private purposes provided that it does not hinder any member of staff from fulfilling their duties or contravene our acceptable user policy |
|
Staff using the Internet must never deliberately: |
| |
• |
Access information that is offensive and / or inappropriate for use in a school, and /or save it to floppy disk or hard drive, neither on a school workstation or laptop |
| |
• |
Send offensive material through the school’s internal or external email facilities |
| |
• |
Use the school's facilities to print out material for private purposes |
|
Monitoring Policy |
The school will regularly monitor saved files on servers, workstations and laptops, as well as websites visited. The school is also entitled to intercept e-mails.
Staff who abuse the code set above will be liable to disciplinary action under the school?s formal procedures.
Information within files in staff personal areas on the network may, on rare occasions, be accessed by the Head of ICT with the permission of the Headteacher, as part of their monitoring role. Such information cannot be assumed to be confidential. |
Social Use of the Internet Outside School |
| Social Networking Sites |
It is not acceptable for members of staff to accept current pupils as 'friends' on sites like FaceBook or MSN. It is not acceptable for staff to make any contact with pupils or parents via these personal websites. Staff should delete any such requests from their profile.
We recognise that such interactions have the potential to leave members of staff and pupils vulnerable. |
| Contact with parents via e-mail |
Contact with parents should happen via the school e-mail only. All members of staff have a school e-mail address and this should be the one they use to correspond with parents.
Members of staff should not use their private e-mail addresses to contact parents or pupils.
A disclaimer must be attached to the signature of every e-mail sent by a member of staff. |
Contact with pupils via e-mail |
| Pupils may only contact members of staff regarding school matters via the school e-mail address. |
Member of Staff ICT Agreement Form |
Please complete and return this form to the Headteacher |
As a school user of the Internet, I agree to comply with the school rules on its use. I will use the network in a responsible way and observe all the restrictions explained to me by the school in lessons and in the staff areas. I understand that the school monitors files and I agree that I will not access illegal or offensive material on any workstation.
I understand that whilst I may use the school computers for personal use out of lessons, this should never prevent other members of staff from accessing ICT facilities for school work or prevent me from working effectively.
I also understand that some materials on the Internet may be objectionable and I accept a shared responsibility with the school for setting standards for the pupils to follow when selecting, sharing and exploring information and media.
Member of staff signature ____________________ Date: ___/___/___
Name of member of staff ____________________ |
| |
| »
BACK TO TOP |
