The “Inspecting e-Safety in Schools” framework which was released in September 2012 has been updated on a quarterly basis. This is understandable, the e-safety inspection framework was brand new and it has needed time to settle in and get it right. The quarterly changes have been small but also positive.
The changes detailed below compare the April 2013 document with the latest release, September 2013. The full document can be downloaded from the Ofsted website HERE.
Page 8 (This is where most of the changes are)
Robust and integrated reporting routines
April 2013
School-based online reporting processes that are clearly understood by the whole school, allowing the pupils to report issues to nominated staff, for example SHARP.
Sept 2013
School-based reporting routes that are clearly understood and used by the whole school, for example anonymous reporting systems.
Important here is the removal of “online reporting processes” and the SHARP example. The SHARP tool is a great tool to use. One I have looked at recently and is my personal preference is the latest tool from SWGfL called WHISPER.
Staff
April 2013
All teaching and non-teaching staff receive regular and up-to-date training. At least one staff member has accredited training, for example CEOP, EPICT.
Sept 2013
All teaching and non-teaching staff receive regular and up-to-date training. One or more members of staff have a higher level of expertise and clearly defined responsibilities.
The change here is the removal of the example training. Personally I am really pleased with this; I get so many calls and emails asking about accredited training. To explain, there is no such thing as a formal “e-safety standard”, not even when Becta were around. Therefore if there is no standard, what is being accredited, and by whom? (Selfish promotion – see the EMPOWER course and how that far exceeds any Ofsted requirements).
Policies (last sentence)
April 2013
The e-safety policy should incorporate an Acceptable Usage Policy that is signed by pupils and/or parents as well as staff and respected by all.
Sept 2013
The e-safety policy should incorporate an Acceptable Usage Policy that is understood and respected by pupils, staff and parents.
The word “signed” has been replaced by “understood and respected”. This is an understandable change as the administration alone is an onerous task. Personally I think the e-safety policy should be a mandatory signature in respect to staff (after all, we’re talking about safeguarding), and I would always recommend the AUP is sent home to parents.
Education
April 2013
A progressive curriculum that is flexible, relevant and engages pupils’ interest…..
Sept 2013
An age-appropriate e-safety curriculum that is flexible, relevant and engages pupils’ interest….
A small but positive change that doesn’t need explanation.
Management of Personal Data (new addition to section)
April 2013
Not a change, it is a new addition to this section.
Sept 2013
Any professional communications between the setting and the clients that utilise technology should:
– Take place within clear and explicit professional boundaries.
– Be transparent and open to scrutiny.
– Not share any personal information with a child or young person.
This needs further clarity, but essentially the addition ties in with the impact levels of personal data (IL1-6) and how that data is handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Page 10
What to look for
April 2013
– At least annual training (in-service or online) for all staff.
– Training content changes each session to reflect advances in technology
– Recognized group or committee or individual with e-safety responsibility.
Sept 2013
– At least annual training (in-service or online) for all staff.
– Training content updated to reflect current research and advances in technology.
– Recognized individual or group with e-safety responsibility.
There are two changes here:
– Training must reflect current research. Advances in technology can, in some circumstances, increase risk and change the nature of the risk. It is important this information is bang up to date.
– The word “committee” has been removed, presumably as “group” is all-encompassing.
What is outstanding practice?
April 2013
e-Safety certified professional(s) (CEOP, EPICT and so on) – has been removed and changed to:
One or more members of staff have a higher level of expertise and clearly defined responsibilities.
As already stated above, this is a welcome change. e-Safety must be managed in school, and to be managed there must be a clearly defined set of responsibilities, an in-depth understanding of e-safety, and frequent updates to latest risks and issues to empower the whole school.
To keep this post concise, the other minor changes are listed as follows:
Educating and supporting parents – Regular and relevant e-safety resources offered to parents, and children educating parents.
Children educating parents is always a fantastic idea. Regarding regular regular information/resources to parents, that’s a nice easy one. Subscribe to my free parents e-safety newsletter and distribute it to them. You can sign up HERE.
Page 12, question 13 – building resilience of children through progressive and appropriate education. The old document stated school assemblies, programmes for all age groups and peer mentoring. The new document has removed assemblies and made clear that it is education which is planned, progressive and embedded.
Page 13, Sample questions for pupils – there is a slight changing to the wording of the final question from, “do you understand,” to, “can you describe the risks of posting inappropriate content on the internet?”
Conclusion: All in all these are positive changes which clear up some of the small amounts of confusion over the previous versions.
I’m certainly happy with the requirement for an AUP signature having been dropped. I’ve never understood why many schools pick out AUPs as something that needs a separate signature. We don’t ask staff to sign the safeguarding policy separately, or anti-bullying, any other policies, many of which are just as important. Adherence to school policies is a contractual obligation, regardless of whether staff sign them or not. A signature doesn’t magically make them more impo
Thanks for your input James. I think this has been one of those things lost in time, in my travels visiting many schools there is a definite split between those where staff must sign certain policies, and those that don’t.
In my time at the local authority, whenever there was a matter (e.g. disciplinary) that involved computer/internet use, one of the first documents HR would require from the school was a copy of the relevant signed policies.
This is one of the problems with something that is not mandated(and that’s not an Ofsted issue), as there will be different requirements and/or interpretations.
As always, the school should do what it feels comfortable with.
Alan
*more important (sorry, typing too fast on a tablet!)
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