The School has a duty to provide pupils with safe and appropriate Internet access as part of their learning entitlement. Use of the Internet is part of the statutory Curriculum and a necessary tool for staff and pupils. It is our responsibility to teach children how to use the Internet safely, appropriately and effectively.

The purpose of Internet use in our School is:

• To raise educational standards
• To promote pupils achievement
• To support the professional work of staff
• To enhance the school's management, information and administration systems

The School Internet access is designed specifically for staff and pupil use and includes filtering appropriate to the age of our pupils through the Hampshire Internet Service Provider. The School works in partnership with parents, the LEA, the DfES and the Internet Service Provider to ensure that systems to protect children are reviewed and updated.

• Pupils are supervised whenever they are using the Internet.

• Pupils are taught to carry our controlled searches.

• Pupils are not allowed access to public or unregulated chat rooms.

In common with other media such as magazines, books and video, some material available via the Internet is unsuitable for pupils. The school will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that users access only appropriate material. However, due to the international scale and linked nature of Internet content, it is not possible to guarantee that unsuitable material will never appear on a school computer. Neither the school nor Hampshire County Council can accept liability for the material accessed, or any consequences of Internet access.

If staff or children discover unsuitable sites, the URL and content will be reported to the Hampshire Internet Service Provider via the ICT coordinator.

Our School ensures that the use of materials derived from the Internet by staff and pupils complies with copyright law.

Teachers use "Favourites" to direct children to suitable sites.

Rules for Internet use are displayed in every Classroom.

Many of our pupils are familiar with Internet use and we discuss Internet rules with them at an age appropriate level. It is the responsibility of Class Teachers to explain and discuss safe Internet access with children and to ensure that they are regularly reminded of these.

The point of contact on the School Website is the School address, email and telephone number. Home information for staff and pupils will not be published.

Website photographs which include children will be selected carefully and will not allow individual pupils to be identified.

Pupil names will not be published on the website.

Written permission from parents or carers much be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the website.

The Headteacher takes overall responsibility for the website and ensures that the content is accurate and appropriate.

The copyright of all material is held by the school or attributed to the owner where permission to reproduce has been obtained.

All staff are provided with the School Internet Policy and are made aware of the "Safety on the Internet" statement before using any Internet resource in the School. They are made aware that Internet traffic can be monitored and traced to the individual user.

Staff professional development in the safe and responsible use of the Internet and on School Internet Policy is provided as required.

The School's ICT systems are regularly reviewed in relation to security and virus protection is installed and updated regularly. Personal floppy discs belonging to staff must not be used in school without a virus check and children are not permitted to use personal floppy discs from home at School.

Files held on the School's network are regularly checked by the School Systems Administrator, who ensures that the system has the capacity to take increased traffic caused by Internet use.

Dear Parents,

As part of School Curriculum we provide your child with supervised access to the Internet. We believe that the ability to access and use the World Wide Web is an essential and valuable skill for children as they grow up in an increasingly technological world.

Our School Internet Provider operates a filtering system which restricts access to inappropriate materials, however, the School cannot be held responsible for the nature or content of materials accessed through the Internet. The School will not be liable for any damages resulting from your child's use of the Internet facilities.

A copy of our Internet Policy is available from the School Office and it is also published on the School website.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of Internet use with me, please telephone to arrange an appointment.

Teresa Offer

We believe that Internet use is important for the following reasons:

• To support and extend the Curriculum

• To equip children with the necessary skills for life in an increasingly technological world

• To enable children to become independent learners

• To develop children's research and communication skills

• To support staff professional development through access to national developments, educational materials and good curriculum practice

With this Policy we seek to ensure that the use of the Internet in our School is purposeful, effective and appropriate and that we take all reasonable precautions to ensure that it is safely controlled.

There will be zero tolerance of any website which contravenes the School's policy on Anti-Discriminatory Practice.