EDClass understands the responsibility to educate pupils on all e-Safety issues. This includes teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of a classroom.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) covers a wide range of resources.  These include:-

• Web-based and mobile learning. It is also important to recognise the constant and fast-paced evolution of ICT within our society as a whole. Currently, the internet technologies children and young people are using both inside and outside of the classroom include:
• Websites
• Learning Platforms and Virtual Learning Environments
• Email and Instant Messaging
• Chat Rooms and Social Networking
• Blogs
• Podcasting
• Video Broadcasting
• Downloading from the internet
• Gaming
• Mobile/Smart phones with text, video and web functionality
• Other mobile devices with web functionality

Roles and Responsibilities

As e-safety is an important aspect of strategic leadership within EDClass, the Senior Leadership Team have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that the policy and practices are embedded and monitored. The named e-Safety coordinator at EDClass is Cara Radford. All members of staff have been made aware of who holds this post. It is the role of the e-safety coordinator to keep abreast of current issues and guidance through.

The e-safety coordinator updates the other members of The Senior Management Team of any issues within the business in relation to local and national guidelines and advice.

Writing and reviewing the e-safety policy

This policy (for staff, volunteers, visitors and pupils), is to protect the interests and safety of the business. It is linked to the following policies: Health and Safety, Child Protection, Bullying and Harassment, internet usage and Prevent policies.

Our e-safety policy has been agreed by the Director, Senior Management Team and all staff. The e-safety policy and its implementation are reviewed at least annually.

 E-Safety skills development for staff

• All members of staff receive regular information and training on e-safety issues through staff meetings, training sessions and email updates.
• All members of staff have been made aware of individual responsibilities relating to the safeguarding of children within the context of e-Safety and know what to do in the event of misuse of technology by any student or member of staff.
• All new members of staff receive information on the  Acceptable Use Agreement as part of their induction.

Teaching and Learning

Internet use will enhance learning

• EDClass will provide opportunities within a range of curriculum areas to teach e-safety.
• Educating pupils on the dangers of technologies that may be encountered outside school is done informally when opportunities arise and as part of the e-Safety curriculum.
• Pupils are made aware of the impact of online bullying and know how to seek help if these issues affect them. Pupils are also made aware of where to seek advice or help if they experience problems when using the Internet and related technologies; i.e. parent or a career, a teacher or a trusted member of staff, or an organisation such as Childline 08001111 or CEOP.

Managing Internet Access

Information system security

• EDClass ICT systems, capacity and security will be reviewed regularly.
• System security is overseen by our contractors 

Published content and our website

The contact details on the website are the business address, e-mail and telephone numbers. Staff personal information is not published. The Senior Management Team will take overall editorial responsibility and ensure that content is accurate and appropriate.

Social networking and personal publishing

EDClass blocks access to personal social networking sites.

• Staff are advised during induction that the use of social media networks outside EDClass is to be used with caution.
• Staff are advised to set and maintain profiles on sites to maximise privacy and deny access to unknown individuals. 
• Staff are asked to report any incidents of bullying on social media to their line manager.
• Staff are advised not to add children, or parents as ‘friends’ if they use social media.

Managing emerging technologies

• Emerging technologies will be examined for educational benefit and suitability and a risk assessment will be carried out before any use is authorised.
• The use of portable media such as memory sticks and hard drives will be monitored closely as potential sources of computer viruses and inappropriate material.
• Staff are not allowed to bring personal mobile devices/phones into the office. Lockers are provided for every member of staff for safe storage of their mobile phones/devices. Any staff that has brought phones or devices into the office will face disciplinary action.
• The sending of abusive or inappropriate messages outside business hours is forbidden and disciplinary action will follow for anyone found in breach of this rule.

Protecting personal data

EDClass will use information about students to tailor make learning in order to provide the best opportunities for students to learn taking into account their individual needs.

EDClass will hold personal information on its systems. EDClass works with third parties to integrate customer data onto our platform Customers choose how often the data is rechecked. We will ensure that all personal information supplied is held securely, in accordance with GDPR.  

Policy Decisions

Authorising Internet access

• Access to the Internet should be directly supervised and be too specific to approved online materials.
• All staff using an EDClass laptop, desktop, tablet or phone will be made aware of the internet usage policy.

 Password Security

• Customers are provided with a school ID, username and password.
• Students are provided with a school ID, username and password.
• All members of EDClass staff are aware of the importance of locking the devices when left unattended and of the importance of keeping passwords secret.
• All members of EDClass staff are aware of their individual responsibilities to protect the security and confidentiality of the data we collect.

Assessing risks

EDClass will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. EDClass will audit ICT provisions 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 and reported to the Director.
• Deliberate access to inappropriate materials by any user will lead to the incident being logged by the e-Safety coordinator and disciplinary action will follow.
• Any complaint about staff misuse must be referred to The Senior Leadership Team.
• Complaints and concerns of a child protection nature must be dealt with in accordance with our child protection procedures. For example, evidence of: inappropriate online relationships; a child watching pornography or any ‘18’ films on a regular basis; online/digital bullying, harassment or inappropriate image sharing etc. Cara Radford is the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Staff and customers have been informed of the complaint’s procedure.

 Staff and the e-Safety policy

• All staff must sign the Staff E- E-Learning Policy and a copy is kept on file.
• Any information downloaded must be respectful of copyright, property rights and privacy.
• All members of staff are aware that internet traffic is monitored and traced to the individual user.  Discretion and professional conduct are essential.
• IT equipment issued to a member of staff remains the property EDClass.
• Users of such equipment should therefore adhere to policies regarding appropriate use with regard to Internet access, GDPR and use of software, both in and out of work.

The Learning Platform and other home/school internet use

• All staff have been trained and given advice on how to effectively use the internet, Microsoft Office and the EDClass Platform.

Monitoring and review  

This policy is implemented on a day-to-day basis by all staff and is monitored on an annual basis by the e-Safety Coordinator – Cara Radford.

This policy is the Senior Leadership Team’s responsibility and we will review its effectiveness at least annually. We will do this during reviews conducted between Cara Radford - the e-safety Coordinator and the Designated Child Protection Coordinator.

On-going child protection concerns and incidents will continue to be reported to the appropriate services.