These policies demonstrate the expectations we have of the responsible use of the Internet by our children. The children have contributed to, and have agreed to follow the rules in these policies.

Letter for parents

Dear Parent/Carer,

All pupils at Rolleston Primary School use computer facilities and internet access, as an essential part of learning as required by the National Curriculum.  Your child will have the opportunity to access a wide range of information and communication technology (ICT) resources. This includes access to:

• Computers, laptops, iPads and other digital devices
• The Internet, which may include search engines and educational sites
• Email
• Games consoles and other games-based technologies
• Digital cameras, webcams and video cameras

Rolleston Primary recognises the essential and important contribution that technology plays in promoting children’s learning and development, and believe it offers a fantastic range of positive activities and experiences. We do recognise however that this can bring risks.  We take your child’s online safety seriously and, as such, will take all reasonable precautions, including monitoring and filtering systems, to ensure that pupils are safe when they use our internet and systems.

We recognise however that no technical system can replace online safety education and believe that children themselves have an important role to play in developing responsible behaviour. To support the school in developing your child’s knowledge and understanding about online safety, we request that you read the attached Acceptable Use Policy with your child and discuss the content with them. This will be signed in school.

KS1 and Early Years:

We understand that your child is very young to give informed consent on his/ her own; however, we feel it is good practice to involve them as much as possible in the decision-making process, and believe a shared commitment is the most successful way to achieve this. Together with you at home, we will achieve this.

Hopefully, you will also find this Acceptable Use Policy provides you with an opportunity for conversations between you and your child about safe and appropriate use of the technology, both at school and at home.

We request that all parents support our approach to online safety by role modelling safe and positive online behaviour and by discussing online safety whenever children access technology at home. Parents can visit the school websites for more information about our approach to online safety. Full details of the school’s online safety policy are available on the school website or on request.

Parents/carers may also like to visit the following links for more information about keeping children safe online:

• www.thinkuknow.co.uk
• www.childnet.com
•  www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety
• www.saferinternet.org.uk
• www.internetmatters.org

Should you wish to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher, the phase leaders, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Carter) or ourselves.

Yours sincerely,

Co-Heads

Parent/Carers

We ask parents and carers to support us by:

• Sharing good online behaviours with your child.
• Emphasising the importance of the Acceptable Use Policy your child has agreed to.
• Highlighting the importance of accessing only age-appropriate content and sites along with the pitfalls of social media.
• Explaining how to keep an appropriate digital footprint.
• Discussing what is and isn’t appropriate to share online.
• Emphasising never to meet anyone online or trust that everyone has good intentions.
• Reporting any concerns you have whether home or school based.
• Stressing the importance of openness when being online and that no one should ever be too ashamed or embarrassed to tell a trusted adult if they have seen/shared anything concerning or have had inappropriate online contact.
• Drawing up an agreement of online safety rules for outside of school that are applicable even when your child is at a friend’s home.
• Avoiding posting or replying to any comments about the school to social media that may have a negative impact. Any concerns or worries should be reported to the school in the first instance.