Just like home childcare recognises that the internet is a useful resource for both staff and children, for purposes of research, homework and entertainment. However it must be used with care to ensure that children are kept safe from exposure to harmful material, in accordance with the
EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements and the Prevent Duty.
Parental permission
Children will only be allowed to access the internet at the Club if their parent or carer has given written permission
Guidelines for children
A printed copy of the SMART guidelines are kept next to the computer. The guidelines are
explained to any children wishing to access the internet:
Safe: Keep safe by not giving out personal information – such as name, email,
phone number, address, or school name – to people who you don’t trust
online.
Meeting: Never agree to meet anyone you have only met online unless your
parent or carer is with you.
Accepting: Do not accept emails or instant messages, or open files, images or
texts from people you don’t know. They can contain viruses or nasty messages
messages.
Reliable: Not all the information found on the Internet is reliable and people
you meet online won’t always be telling the truth.
Tell: Tell a member of staff or your parents if someone or something you
encounter online makes you feel uncomfortable.
Protecting children
We have put in place the following safeguards to keep children safe whilst accessing the internet
on the Club’s computers:
A risk assessment has been undertaken.
Parental controls have been activated on all computers accessible to children:
o Google SafeSearch Filtering is turned on
o YouTube Restricted Mode is set to on
The computers are located so that the screens can easily be seen from the rest of the room.
Staff keep a close eye on children and the sites that they are accessing when they use the internet
The computers have an up to date virus checker and firewall installed.
The computers’ browser histories are regularly checked to monitor which sites are being
accessed. All staff and children are informed of this fact.
If, despite the safeguards the Club has put in place, a child encounters harmful material on the internet, or receives inappropriate messages, or experiences online bullying, whilst using the Club’s computers, the manager will be informed and the incident will be noted on an Incident log
The manager will investigate how to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.
If staff at the Club become aware that a child is deliberately attempting to access sites
containing sexual, extremist or otherwise inappropriate material, or has been shown such
material by a third party, they will complete a Logging a concern form and refer the matter to
the Club’s designated Child Protection Officer in accordance with our Safeguarding children policy
Related policies
See also: Safeguarding Children Policy, Social Media Policy.