Internet Acceptable Use Policy

Address Ivy House, Parklane, Wexford
Telephone 0539156757
Email info@kidscoderclub.ie
Website http://kidscoderclub.ie/
Fax  
School Name Kids Coder Club
Date of Commencement 08/08/2019
Author Trevor Murphy

Contents

1. Introduction

2. General Approach

3. Content Filtering

4. Web Browsing and Downloading

5. Email and Messaging

6. Social Media

7. Personal Devices

8. Images & Video

9. Cyberbullying

10. School Websites

11. Permission Form

General Approach

The aim of this Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from the learning opportunities offered by the Kids Coder Club (KCC) internet resources in a safe and effective manner.

Internet use and access is considered a KCC resource and privilege. If the KCC AUP is not adhered to this privilege may be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.

When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected:

  • To treat others with respect at all times.
  • Not undertake any actions that may bring KCC into disrepute.
  • Respect the right to privacy of all other members of the KCC community.
  • Respect copyright and acknowledge creators when using online content and resources.

This Acceptable Use Policy applies to pupils who have access to and are users of the internet in Kids Coder Club.

  • It also applies to members of staff, volunteers, parents, carers and others who access the internet in Kids Coder Club.

Misuse of the internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. KCC also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

Kids Coder Club will deal with incidents that take place outside the school that impact on the wellbeing of pupils or staff under this policy and associated codes of behaviour and anti-bullying policies. In such cases, Kids Coder Club will where known, inform parents/carers of incidents of inappropriate online behaviour that take place out of school and impose the appropriate sanctions.

Kids Coder Club implements the following strategies on promoting safer use of the internet :

  • Internet safety advice and support opportunities are provided to pupils in Kids Coder Club through our Internet Safety classes.
  • Teachers will be provided with continuing professional development opportunities in the area of internet safety.
  • Kids Coder Club participates in Safer Internet Day activities to promote safer more effective use of the internet.

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed annually by the following stakeholders:

  • Teaching staff, support staff, pupils, and parents

This policy has been developed by a working group including: Principal, teachers, pupils and parents.

The school will monitor the impact of the policy using:

  • Surveys and/or questionnaires of pupils.
  • Surveys and/or questionnaires of pupils, parents, and teaching staff.

Should serious online safety incidents take place, Trevor Murphy should be informed.

The implementation of this Internet Acceptable Use Policy will be monitored by Trevor Murphy.

Content Filtering

Kids Coder Club  has chosen to implement the following level on content filtering on the Schools Broadband Network:

  • Level 1  This content filtering level allows access to a specific list of educational and related websites and other websites commonly used by schools. Level 1 is used by a very small number of schools, as it is generally perceived as being a little too restrictive by most schools.

Pupils taking steps to by-pass the content filter by using proxy sites or other means may be subject to disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.

Web Browsing and Downloading

Pupils will not intentionally visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.

Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in the classroom to their teacher.

Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in KCC but outside the classroom to Trevor Murphy.

Pupils and staff will not copy information from the internet without acknowledging the creator and referencing the source of the content.

Pupils and staff will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons.

Pupils will use the school’s internet connection only for educational and career development activities.

Pupils will not engage in online activities such as uploading or downloading large files that result in heavy network traffic which impairs the service for other internet users.

Pupils will not download or view any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.

  • Use of file sharing and torrent sites is not allowed.
  • Downloading by pupils of materials or images not relevant to their studies is not allowed.

Email and Messaging

  • The use of personal email accounts is only allowed at Kids Coder Club with expressed permission from members of the teaching staff.
  • Pupils should not under any circumstances share their email account login details with other pupils.

Pupils will not send any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.

Pupils will not use of school email accounts or personal emails.

Pupils should immediately report the of any communication that makes them feel uncomfortable, is offensive, discriminatory, threatening or bullying in nature and must not respond to any such communication.

Pupils should avoid opening emails that appear suspicious. If in doubt, pupils should ask their tutor before opening emails from unknown senders.

Social Media

The following statements apply to the use of messaging, blogging and video streaming services in Kids Coder Club :

  • Use of video streaming sites such as YouTube and Vimeo etc. are allowed at certain times in  Kids Coder Club.
  • Use of video streaming sites such as YouTube and Vimeo etc. is with express permission from teaching staff.

Staff and pupils must not use social media and the internet in any way to harass, insult, abuse or defame pupils, their family members, staff, other members of the Kids Coder Club  community

Staff and pupils must not discuss personal information about pupils, staff and other members of the Kids Coder Club community on social media.

Staff and pupils must not use school email addresses for setting up personal social media accounts or to communicate through such media.

Staff and pupils must not engage in activities involving social media which might bring Kids Coder Club into disrepute.

Staff and pupils must not represent your personal views as those of bring Kids Coder Club on any social medium.

Personal Devices

Pupils using their own technology in school should follow the rules set out in this agreement, in the same way as if they were using school equipment.

The following statements apply to the use of internet-enabled devices such as tablets, gaming devices, and digital music players in Kids Coder Club :

  • Pupils are only allowed to bring personal internet-enabled devices into Kids Coder Club with expressed permission from staff.

Images & Video

Care should be taken when taking photographic
or video images that pupils are appropriately dressed and are not participating
in activities that might bring the individuals or KCC into disrepute.

At Kids Coder Club pupils must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of others without their permission.

Taking photos or videos on club grounds or
when participating in KCC activities is not allowed under any circumstances.

Taking photos or videos on KCC grounds or when participating in school activities is allowed once care is taken that no harm is done to staff or pupils of Kids Coder Club.

Taking photos or videos on KCC grounds or when participating in school activities is only allowed with expressed permission from staff.

Content focusing groups or on individual students will not be published on the KCC website or Facebook page if parents have replied to the consent email stating they do not permit images of their children to be published.

Pupils must not share images, videos or other content online with the intention to harm another member of the school community regardless of whether this happens in school or outside.

Sharing explicit images and in particular explicit images of pupils and/or minors is unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved. Sharing explicit images of other pupils automatically incurs suspension as a sanction.

Cyberbullying

When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected to treat others with respect at all times.

Engaging in online activities with the intention to harm, harass, or embarrass and another pupil or member of staff is unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved.

Measures are taken to ensure that staff and pupils are aware that bullying is defined as unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time. This definition includes cyber-bullying even when it happens outside the school or at night.

Measures are taken by Kids Coder Club to ensure that staff and pupils are aware that bullying is defined as unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time. This definition includes cyber-bullying even when it happens outside the school or at night.

Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour, including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private messaging, do not fall within the definition of bullying and will be dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.

The prevention of cyberbullying is an integral part of the anti-bullying policy of our clubl.

KCC Websites

Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or KCC work on the internet in accordance with clear policies and approval processes regarding the content that can be loaded to the school’s website.

The website will be regularly checked to ensure that there is no content that compromises the safety, privacy, or reputation of students or staff.

Webpages allowing comments or user-generated content will be pre-moderated and checked frequently to ensure that they do not contain any inappropriate or offensive content.

The publication of student work will be coordinated by a teacher.

Kids Coder Club will use only digital photographs, audio or video clips of focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual students will not be published on the KCC website or Facebook page if parents have reply to consent email stating they do not premit images of their children to be published. 

Personal student information including home address and contact details will not be published on Kids Coder Club web pages.

The Kids Coder Club will avoid publishing the first name and last name of pupils in video or photograph captions published online.

Permission Form

LegislationThe school will provide information on the following legislation relating to the use of the Internet which teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with: Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998Interception Act 1993Video Recordings Act 1989The Data Protection Act 1988

I agree to follow the KCC’s Acceptable Use Policy on the use of the Internet. I will use the Internet in a responsible way and obey all the rules explained to me by the KCC.

Student Name:

As the parent or legal guardian of the above student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and grant permission for my sonor daughter or the child in my care to access the Internet. I understand that Internet access is intended for educational purposes. I also understand that every reasonable precaution has been taken by KCC to provide for online safety but KCC cannot be held responsible if students access unsuitable websites.

In relation to the KCC website, I accept that, if KCC considers it appropriate, my child’s work or image may be chosen forinclusion on the website. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy relating to publishing students’ work on the KCC website.

Please review the attached KCC Internet Acceptable Use Policy, and send a return email to info@kidscoderclub.ie subject title AUP Reviewed. 

Name of Parent/Gaurdian:______________________