IT Safeguarding for Education
Importance of online safety in education
Early learning educators play an essential role in helping young children understand the foundations of being safe online. Even if children don’t have access to technology in your school or trust, they will probably be accessing it in their own home, with their friends or in other public spaces. Children are naturally curious in understanding the world we live in; we need to enable them to do so while offering them support to understand the value of internet access and how to use it safely. It's important that adults act as role models when using technology as students are likely to copy.
Why online safety matters in education
Ofcom’s ‘Children and Parents Media Use and Attitudes Report’ (2018 – released in January 2019) found that:
1% of 3-4-year old's have their own smartphone and 19% have their own tablet
52% of 3-4-year old's go online for an average of nearly 9 hours a week
45% of 3-4-year old's use YouTube
It’s important that the school network ensure children are learning about the world around them and how to keep themselves safe online. Safeguarding means keeping children safe online through safe and effective care by following procedures in line with your local authority.
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Safeguarding children
What online risks might children experience?
Students could be at risk of content, contact and conduct and it is the responsibility of schools to protect them by having a stringent safeguarding policy. Allowing children to access the internet without protection or guidance may lead to them suffering significant harm.
Content:
(What they may see)
Seeing inappropriate videos, pictures or messages which might upset, worry or frighten them
Copying harmful or inappropriate behaviour they see online
Searching for inappropriate content on purpose or stumbling upon it by accident. This includes using voice-activated tools.
Inadvertently giving apps or websites permission to share their location or other personal information
Spending real money via in-app or in-game purchases
Contact:
(Who might communicate with them)
Being abused online (including sexually) and coming to significant harm from strangers such as when using video chat or gaming
Being abused online (including sexually) by an adult they know, such as friends and family members
Sending images or information to people on the contact list
Conduct:
(How they might behave)
Exhibiting unhealthy behaviours and boundaries around their use of screens
Respond to each other online as well as offline; this could be using mean words or by excluding others from their games
Learning and using words or terminology which are inappropriate for their age
Engaging in unhealthy relationships
As part of natural development, children may exhibit curiosity about their own and others’ private body parts; if this occurs via technology children may be at risk of taking inappropriate or indecent images and videos of themselves
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
With BYOD it can be an additional challenge protecting children online while on site. Organisations have to put in place stringent safeguarding policies, resources and training to ensure the safety of children online but BYOD can pose new challenges.
According to Ofcom’s “Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2016” 83% of children age 5-15 have access to a tablet computer. With more and more schools having reliable wireless networks, many are implementing BYOD solutions.
The Bring Your Own Device model involves students bringing their technology to school to use within lessons. These devices enable students to create and collaborate – working in groups to solve problems using approved online resources and educational apps. They also have the ability to deliver their work in an innovative way, using video, slideshows or imagery. The BYOD model has contributed to increased engagement and improved student outcomes because students are empowered as a result of being placed at the centre of the learning process, using devices they’re familiar with.
However, unless effectively managed this model does introduce new risks into the classroom – particularly to safety and security. Securely managing BYOD is a complex task. Enforcing security policies onto devices which are not owned by the school or trust presents new challenges, it is important to be aware of the risks introduced by BYOD when considering this for your school or trust.
Child protection
As well as thorough policies for the prevention of harm to students, it's imperative to provide training to teachers with advice for teachers while their students access the internet; as well as a procedure for raising any concerns they may have over any child and their behaviour in regards to their use of the internet. Teachers must be empowered to raise any fears that they have about possible abuse as part of their duties. Schools should offer regular training to help teachers recognise signs of abuse as part of the larger child protection procedures and what they should do in protecting individual children identified as being at risk.
Mitigating risks
There are a number of steps that schools can take, in an effort to safeguard its students against the harm and neglect that may result from a lack of online safety.
Schools are encouraged to implement web filtering solutions - which Zenzero can manage on your behalf - on its network to block social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok to reduce the risks against instances of cyberbullying and to avoid children sharing photos and their location.
An “acceptable use” policy is also highly recommended to manage and outline what is deemed as responsible or irresponsible online behaviour. Young people, staff and parents need to understand that behaviours will not be tolerated. When creating an acceptable use policy, schools may require guidance on how to build a policy that addresses all areas concerning the internet to keep children safe. Zenzero can support your school and advise on making one as part of your child protection procedures and safeguarding children from abuse and neglect.
Learning from home challenges
Learning from home offers new challenges, it's important if you have not done so already to review your online safeguarding policy to provide advice to teachers educating in this new climate.
Keeping pupils, students and teachers safe during distance learning is essential. Teachers delivering remote education online should be aware that the same principles set out in the school or college staff behaviour policy (sometimes known as a code of conduct) will apply.
Educations organisations may want to update their policies to reflect remote online education. Schools and colleges (led by their designated safeguarding lead) should review and update their child protection policy to reflect the fact pupils and students will be learning online and in the classroom. It's also important for staff to consider how they conduct themselves with their students, they may want to invite parents or another staff member when running a 1:1 with students.
It is also worth considering that without the right technology solutions in place you may not be able to restrict access to websites which would normally be blocked when in the classroom.