Mobile Phone, Camera, Internet and Social Networking Policy

E-safety encompasses not only the internet but also wireless communications including mobile phones, cameras, webcams, iPads, watches, pc tablets and any other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities. There are many opportunities to learn from the internet and we use a PC (which is password protected) and a kindle to access games, take photographs and learn about technology.  The Kindle is programmed for children under the age of 12 with password protection.  My daughter Zoë has her own laptop, locked away in her bedroom which is not accessible to the children, and she does not use our PC downstairs. 

As part of our Safeguarding procedure, I always carry a mobile phone with me.  This enables me to contact or be contacted by children’s parents/carers throughout the day as well as enabling me to be able to make emergency phone calls if necessary.

With all emerging technologies, there is also the potential for misuse. Risks associated with user interactive services include cyber bullying, grooming and potential abuse, identity theft and exposure to inappropriate content. It is my duty to make sure that the children in my care are not subjected to any of these.

Procedure

I keep up to date with local and national e-safety awareness issues regarding existing and emerging technologies.   I receive emails from childnet.com who have a very informative website on being smart on the internet for parents/carers and children. The government also have a very useful website at UK Council for Internet Safety - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) which is regularly updated.

The PC is situated in the quiet room in full view of myself and the other children. It is locked with a password (that only I know) when not in use.  The children ask me before using the PC, laptop or Kindle. In this way I can keep an eye on what they are looking at and taking part in at all times. If I think they are playing an inappropriate game etc I intervene immediately.

The PC has McAfee security protection which is updated regularly.  I have set the parental controls so that it blocks any unsafe content from popping up or coming up when key words are typed into the search engine.  I model safe internet behaviour, and I speak to parents/carers about their use of the internet and what they allow their children access to at home.

I also talk to the children about using computers and internet safely and to the older children about putting information on the internet. There is an excellent website called www.thinkuknow.co.uk containing information for various aged children, parents/carers and teachers. There are age appropriate videos for the children to watch giving them valuable information about internet security.

Photographs are taken using my mobile phone.  The images are transferred to my computer each evening and deleted from my mobile phone immediately after they are transferred.

Photographs are printed using my colour printer.  I will not distribute or publish photographs of your children without asking you first, even if I have written permission to do so. I will be able to justify why I have taken any photographs.  Parents/carers sign a permission form for so that I can take photographs of their children during their time with me.  Older photographs are either permanently deleted or stored on a disc which is kept locked away with the rest of my archived records.

Visitors to my home (this includes parents/carers) are not allowed to take photographs of the children in my setting.  Likewise, I do not allow outside organisations or other parents to take photographs of the children when we are out.

I am registered with the Information Commissioners’ Office as Data Controllers under the Data Protection Act 1998 under registration number is Z6917502

Children’s use of mobile phones and other internet connected devices

Children are discouraged from using their mobile phones and other electronic devices that connect to the internet at my setting.  I have little control over who they are speaking to or what they are watching when they use equipment that they bring from home.  This also puts the youngest children at risk of seeing something that is not age appropriate.  If a child needs to bring their mobile phone for emergency reasons, I ask them to keep the phone safely in their own personal bag and only to be used in an emergency.

If I see a child misusing their mobile phone or other electronic devices, I ask them to put it away in their personal bag.  I will discuss this with the parents when they collect and we will agree upon whether the child may bring the piece of equipment to my setting again.

Reporting online concerns about possible abuse

If I believe inappropriate behaviour has occurred (either here, at children’s homes or whilst out), including potentially illegal/abusive content or activity, including child sexual abusive images and online grooming; I will report these concerns to the Internet Watch Foundation at www.iwf.org.uk.  I will never investigate the material myself.  Law enforcement agencies and the service provider may need to take urgent steps to locate the child and/or remove the content from the internet.

Please also see my Safeguarding Policy to see how I keep children safe in other areas.

I also follow guidance in 'Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations'

Useful websites

www.nspcc.org.uk                                                                        www.saferinternet.org

www.thinkuknow.co.uk                                                                www.ceop.police.uk              

www.childnet.com                                                                         www.ico.org.uk

www.wisekids.org.uk                                                                   www.education.gov.uk/ukccis

www.privacyaffairs.com/protect-children-online/                     www.childline.org.uk 

UK Council for Internet Safety - GOV.UK

Policy Written by:     Ilana Hill   Date: 18 September 2011       Signature: 

Last updated and reviewed: 5 November 2024