Online Safety Policy
Activeplay Nursery & Preschool believes that online safety (e-Safety) is an essential element of safeguarding children and adults in the digital world, when using technology such as computers, mobile phones or games consoles.
We recognise that the internet and information communication technologies are an important part of everyday life so children must be supported to be able to learn how to develop strategies to manage and respond to risk so they can be empowered to build resilience online.
Activeplay Nursery & Preschool recognises that children are particularly vulnerable to online bullying, grooming, exploitation, abuse and radicalisation.
The purpose of our online safety policy is to clearly identify the responsibilities of staff, parents and children with regards to the safe and responsible use of technology to ensure that Activeplay Nursery & Preschool is a safe and secure environment. We have a clear duty to ensure that children are protected from harm online.
This policy applies to all staff including visitors, students and volunteers, as well as children and parents/carers, and applies to all access to the internet and use of information communication devices including personal devices or where children, staff or other individuals have been provided with nursery issued devices.
Activeplay Nursery & Preschool provides quality Internet access to allow staff to do their jobs effectively and to promote children’s knowledge, enjoyment and achievement in the area of ICT. All laptops and tablets within the nursery have had appropriate parental controls installed.
All staff have received training with regard to the potential risks as well as benefits of technology. Staff recognise that their own standards and practice when using technology could reflect on their professional standards, and that they must model positive and safe behaviour online to the children in our care.
Children are always supervised in their use of ICT. They do not have unsupervised access to the internet at any time, although they may play independently on the computer if able to do so, using one of our downloaded or CD programmes.
We sometimes use educational websites and apps and provide access to these to children in our care. Any resource accessed from the internet for children’s use or to be watched is first checked, in its entirety, by a member of staff.
The nursery carries out an online safety audit at least annually. The nursery has appointed a member of the leadership team as the online safety lead. This policy and its implementation will be reviewed at least annually or sooner if required.
This policy forms part of our safeguarding and child protection policy, and should be read in conjunction with other relevant policies including (but not limited to) behaviour management, confidentiality, data protection and photography. The manager and deputies have all completed online safety training.
Revised May 2022
By: Michelle Sharp
Adopted as the policy of the nursery
By: Jacquelin Curtis Director,
Activeplay Nurseries Ltd