Mobile phone and screen Policy

IntroductionandAims

The safety, welfare andwell-beingof ourpupilsisparamount.The aim ofthe Mobile phone and screenPolicyistoallowuserstobenefitfrom moderncommunicationtechnologies,whilst promotingsafeandappropriatepracticethroughestablishingclearandrobust acceptable mobile user guidelines.Thisisachieved throughbalancingprotectionagainstpotential misusewiththerecognition that mobile phone and screensare effectivecommunication tools. It is recognised that it is the enhanced functions of manymobile phone and screens thatcausethe mostconcern, offeringdistractions anddisruptionto theworking day,andwhicharemostsusceptibletomisuse–includingthetakinganddistributionofindecent images,exploitationandbullying.However,asit isdifficulttodetectspecificusage,thispolicyrefers to ALL mobilecommunicationdevices.

Scope

Thispolicyappliestoallindividualswhohaveaccesstopersonalmobile phone and screensonsite.Thisincludesstaff,volunteers,governors,children, youngpeople, parents,carers, visitorsandcontractors.Thislistis notexhaustive.

This policyshouldalsoberead inrelationtothe followingdocumentation:-

  • SafeguardingChildren Policy
  • BehaviourandAnti-bullying Policies
  • Guidance onthe UseofPhotographic ImagesandVideosofChildren inSchools

Itisfullyrecognisedthatimposingrigidregulationsontheactionsofotherscanbecounterproductive. Anagreementoftrustisthereforepromotedregardingthecarryinganduseofmobile phone and screenswithin the setting, whichisagreedtobyall users.

PersonalMobiles–Staff

  • Staff are not permitted to make/receive calls/texts during contact time with children. Emergencycontactshouldbe made viatheschooloffice
  • During the school day, staffshould leave their phones in the schools designated

place (e.g. admin office or staff room).

  • Mobile phones should not be stored or used in a space where children are present (e.g. classroom, playground).
  • Useofphones(includingreceiving/sendingtextsandemails)shouldbelimitedtonon-contact timewhen nochildren are presente.g.designated areas of admin office or staff room.
  • It isalsoadvised thatstaffsecurityprotectaccesstofunctionsof their phone
  • Shouldtherebeexceptional circumstances(e.gacutelysickrelative), then staff shouldmakethe Head of Schoolandofficestaffawareofthissomessagescanberelayedpromptly
  • Staffarenotatanytimepermittedtouserecordingequipmentontheirmobile phone and screens,for example:totakerecordingsofchildren, orsharingimages. Legitimaterecordingsand photographs shouldbecapturedusingschoolequipment such ascamerasandipads.
  • Staff shouldreportanyusage ofmobiledevicesthatcausethemconcern to the Head of School

Mobile phone and screensforwork relatedpurposes

We recognise thatmobile phone and screens provide a usefulmeans ofcommunicationonoff-siteactivities. However, staffshouldensurethat:-

  • Mobileuseontheseoccasionsisappropriateandprofessional(andwillneverincludetaking photographsofchildren)
  • Mobile phone and screensshouldnotbeusedtomakecontactwithparentsduringschooltrips –all relevantcommunications shouldbemadevia theSchoolOffice.
  • Whereparentsareaccompanyingtripstheyareinformednottomakecontactwithother parents(viacalls,text,emailorsocial networking)duringthetrip orusetheir phonetotake photographsofchildren.

PersonalMobiles–Pupils

Werecognisethatmobile phone and screensarepartof everydaylifefor manychildrenandthattheycanplanan importantroleinhelpingpupilstofeelsafeandsecure.However,wealsorecognisethattheycanprove a distractionin school andcanprovideameansof bullyingor intimidatingothers. Therefore:-

  • Pupils arenotpermittedtohavemobile phone and screensatschoolorontrips.
  • Ifintherareeventofaparentwishingforhis/herchildtobringamobile phone and screentoschoolto contacttheparentbefore/afterschool:-

1.Theparentmustdiscusstheissuefirstwith theHead of School

2. IfagreedthephonemustbehandedintotheSchoolOffice,switched

offfirstthinginthe morningandcollectedfromtheofficebythechild

at hometime(thephoneisleftatthe owner’sown risk).

  • Mobile phone and screensbroughttoschoolwithoutpermissionwillbeconfiscatedandreturnedatthe endofthe day.

Wheremobile phone and screensareusedinor out of schooltobullyorintimidateothersthentheHead of Schooldoeshavethepowertointervene‘tosuchanextentasitisreasonable toregulatethebehaviourof pupils when theyareofftheschoolsite’.

Volunteers,Visitors,GovernorsandContractors

AllVolunteers,Visitors,GovernorsandContractorsareexpectedtofollow ourmobile phone and screenpolicyasit relatestostaffwhilstonthe premises.

Contractors who use their mobile phone cameras to take photos, need to be accompanied and must not take photos in places where children are present.

On arrival,suchvisitors willbeinformedofourexpectations aroundtheuseofmobile phone and screens.

Parents

Whilewewouldpreferparentsnottousetheir mobile phone and screenswhileonschool premises,werecognise thatthiswould beimpossibletoregulateandthatmanyparentsseetheirphonesasessentialmeansof communicationatalltimes.

We,therefore,askthatparents’usageofmobile phone and screens,whilstontheschoolsiteiscourteousand appropriatetotheschool environment.Wedoallowparentstophotographorvideoschooleventssuchasshowsorsportsdayusingtheir mobile phone and screens–butinsistthatparentsdonotpublish images(egonsocialnetworkingsites)that includeany childrenotherthantheirown.Parents/carersareremindedof thisatthestart of every schoolperformance,onsportsday,etcandwillreceivewrittenreminderintheNewsletteratthestart of theacademicyear.

Dissemination

Themobile phone and screenpolicywill be shared with staff andvolunteers aspartof their induction. It will alsobe availabletoparentvia theschool officeandwebsite.

Theimpactofthis policy onstaff workloadhasbeenconsidered.

This Policy was reviewed by the Local Governing Board on a 3-yearly cycle and must be signed by the Chair of Governors and Executive Headteacher.

Policy Reviewed: / Autumn Term 2016
Next Review: / Autumn Term 2019
Signature of Chair of Governors: / Signature of Executive Principal:
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