I pads

hi everyone, as promised I am going to let you all know what is happening. We are starting from preschool and working our way backwards. We have done lots of market research about what is the best option going forward for the children’s learning for the setting. Most of us have a smart phone or a tablet of some description at home and to be honest the children probably know how to use it better than we do. So we have decided as we are in the age of technology we would embrace it. We have signed up with a company called Teachers cloud. This company currently has over 30000 users of the system and works across all the different curriculums. The girls are busy entering all the data into the iPads that we have (which at the moment is two) so that we can start using them properly in the rooms. None of the I pads will be connected to the internet whilst they are downstairs and if they require the internet for teaching purposes they have to have the internet switched on by management, at this point they will have to let the team know what learning they will get from the internet and why they are doing it.

Here are some questions and answers that may answer concerns you have, if you have any other concerns please email me at [email protected] if preschool or [email protected] if jungle room.

  • What about the safety of the information? Well they all have an individual code which can only be access by the device that is registered. There is no uploading to the cloud and all the information is stored on the devise. 
  • What happens to the data when we leave? We would email all the data home to you as a start point as this then would be able to be passed onto who you wanted to. Then we would simply delete the information off the I pad. Only relevant and current children’s information will be kept on the I pad.
  • How often can I see the information? You can ask to see the information whenever you like. Assessments will continue to happen every three months but you can request the information sooner.
  • Can I have input into the I pad? You can bring anything in, tell us anything or even send us the information yourself for uploading on the I pad.
  • What precautions have you put in place? Every member of staff has to sign an e-safety policy which I will add below and they have signed a social networking policy when they started. Everyone is monitored using the I pad and no internet access is allowed without prior agreement.

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E Safety Policy for Happy Bunnies

The internet is an accessible tool to children in early year's settings.

All early years settings have a duty to ensure that children are protected from potential harm both within and beyond the learning environment. Every effort will be made to safeguard against all risks, however it is likely that we will never be able to completely eliminate them. Any incidents that do arise will be dealt with quickly and according to policy to ensure that children and staff continue to be protected.

Aims

· To offer valuable guidance and resources to early years settings and practitioners to ensure that they can provide a safe and secure online environment for all children in their care.

· To raise awareness amongst staff and parents/carers of the potential risks associated with online technologies, whilst also highlighting the many educational and social benefits.

· To provide safeguards and rules for acceptable use to guide all users in their online experiences.

· To ensure adults are clear about procedures for misuse of any technologies both within and beyond the early years setting.

Scope of policy

This policy applies to all staff, children, parents/carers, committees, visitors and contractors accessing the internet or using technological devices on the premises. This includes the use of personal devices by all of the above mentioned groups, such as mobile phones or iPads/tablets which are brought into an early years setting. This policy is also applicable where staff or individuals have been provided with setting issued devices for use off-site, such as a work laptop or mobile phone.

Staff Responsibilities

Practitioners (including volunteers)

All staff have a shared responsibility to ensure that children are able to use the internet and related technologies appropriately and safely as part of the wider duty of care to which all adults working with children are bound.

Network manager responsibilities

· The setting's ICT infrastructure/system is secure and not open to misuse or malicious attack.

· Anti-virus software is installed and maintained on all setting machines and portable devices.

· The setting's filtering policy is applied and updated on a regular basis and that responsibility for its implementation is shared with the Designated Person for Safeguarding.

· Any problems or faults relating to filtering are reported to Designated Person for Safeguarding and to the broadband provider immediately and recorded on the e Safety Incident Log.

· Users may only access the setting's network through a rigorously enforced password protection policy, in which passwords are regularly changed.

· The use of the setting's network is regularly monitored in order that any deliberate or accidental misuse can be reported to the Designated Person for Safeguarding.

Broadband and Age Appropriate Filtering

Broadband provision is essential to the running of an early years setting, not only allowing for communication with parents and carers but also providing access to a wealth of resources and support. Many settings now use internet enabled devices, including iPad educational apps and games, to enhance the learning experience of children or as online tools for staff to track and share achievement. For this reason, great care must be taken to ensure that safe and secure internet access, appropriate for both adults and children, is made available regardless of the size of the setting.

Happy Bunnies setting.

· Parental controls are established on all internet enabled devices that children have access to, blocking or preventing access to any harmful, illegal or inappropriate content.

Indicators of inadequate or poor practice

· There is no filtering or monitoring in place

· Security of passwords is ineffective (e.g. passwords are shared amongst staff and pupils or children log-in using staff accounts)

· All users (i.e. staff and children) access the same level of filtering resulting in either staff being restricted as to what they can view, or children accessing too much.

Email Use

Staff

Possible statements

· The setting provides all staff with access to a professional email account to use for all work related business, including communication with parents and carers. This allows for email content to be monitored and protects staff from the risk of allegations, malicious emails or inappropriate contact with children and their families.

· Staff must not engage in any personal communications (i.e. via hotmail or yahoo accounts etc) with children who they have a professional responsibility for. This prohibits contact with former pupils outside of authorised setting email channels also.

· All emails should be professional in tone and checked carefully before sending, just as an official letter would be.

Use of Social Networking Sites (advertising or parental contact)

Social networking sites (e.g. Facebook and Twitter) can be a useful advertising tool for early years settings and can often be an effective way of engaging with young or hard to reach parents. Due to the public nature of social networking and the inability to keep content truly private, great care must be taken in the management and use of such sites. Best practice guidance states that:

· Identifiable images of children should not be used on social networking sites without permission from parents.

· To maintain professional distance and to avoid unwanted contact, staff should not link their personal social networking accounts to the setting's page.

· Ensure that privacy settings are set to maximum and checked regularly.

· For safeguarding purposes, photographs or videos of looked after children must not be shared on social networking sites.

· Staff must not accept friend requests from parents or make friend requests for the duration of their employment and 12 months thereafter.

Please refer to the attached Social Networking Policy for further guidance.

Mobile/Smart Phones

Staff:

Possible statements

· Personal mobile phones are permitted on setting grounds, but are to be used during break times only, within designated areas away from children.

· Personal mobile phones must never be used to contact children or their families, nor should they be used to take videos or photographs of children. Setting issued devices only should be used for this purpose and, if containing sensitive information or photographs of children, should not leave the premises unless encrypted and this must be acknowledged in the policy.

Photographs and Video

Digital photographs and videos are an important part of the learning experience in early years settings and, as such, staff have a responsibility to ensure that they not only educate children about the safe and appropriate use of digital imagery, but also model good practice themselves. To this end, there are strict policies and procedures for staff and children about the use of digital imagery and videos.

· Written consent must be obtained from parents or carers before photographs or videos of young people will be taken or used within the setting, including displays, learning journeys, setting website and other marketing materials.

· Staff will ensure that children are at ease and comfortable with images and videos being taken.

· Staff must not use personal devices, such as cameras, video equipment or camera phones, to take photographs or videos of children.

· Setting issued devices only should be used for this purpose and, if containing sensitive information or photographs of children, should not leave the premises unless encrypted and this must be acknowledged in the policy. In the case of an outing, all data must be transferred/deleted from the setting's camera/device before leaving the setting.

Laptops/iPads/Tablets

Staff Use:

· A log of all ICT equipment issued to staff, including serial numbers, is maintained by the Network Manager or ICT Co-ordinator.

· Personal use of setting laptops or computing facilities, whilst on site, is left to the discretion of the Provider/Manager and may be permissible if kept to a minimum, used outside of session times.

· Where staff have been issued with a device (e.g. setting laptop) for work purposes, personal use whilst off site is not permitted unless authorised by the provider/manager. The settings laptop/devices should be used used by the authorised person only.

· Staff are aware that all activities carried out on setting devices and systems, both within and outside of the work environment, will be monitored in accordance with this policy.

· Staff will ensure that setting laptops and devices are made available as necessary for anti-virus updates, software installations, patches, upgrades or routine monitoring/servicing.

· Setting issued devices only should be used for this purpose and, if containing sensitive information or photographs of children, should not leave the premises unless encrypted and this must be acknowledged in the policy.

· Please note: The Provider/Manager is ultimately responsible for the security of any data or images held of children within the setting.

Children's Use:

· Laptop, iPad or tablet use must be supervised by an adult at all times and any games or apps used must be from a pre-approved selection checked and agreed by the Provider/Manager.

· Online searching and installing/downloading of new programmes and applications is restricted to authorised staff members only. Children should not be able to search or install anything on a setting device.

Applications (Apps) for recording pupil progress

In recent years, a number of applications (apps) for mobile devices have been launched which are targeted specifically at Early Years Practitioners and settings. Many of these apps allow staff to track and share a child's learning journey online with parents and carers, usually in the form of photographs and text. Such tools have considerable benefits, including improved levels of engagement with parents and a reduction in paperwork, but careful consideration must be given to safeguarding and data security principles before using such tools.

· Personal staff mobile phones or devices (e.g. iPad or iPhone) should not be used for any apps which record and store children's personal details, attainment or photographs. Only setting issued devices may be used for such activities, ensuring that any devices used are appropriately encrypted if taken off site. This is to prevent a data security breach in the event of loss or theft.

· Before purchasing or accessing any apps for staff or children's use, Providers/Managers must have a clear understanding of where and how children's data will be stored, including who has access to it and any safeguarding implications. Please note: The Provider/Manager is ultimately responsible for the security of any data or images held of children within the setting.

Data Storage and Security

· Sensitive data, photographs and videos of children are not stored on setting devices which leave the premises (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, iPads, USB Memory Sticks etc) unless encryption software is in place.

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Nursery School Gillingham, UK