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Reviewed: October 2017: Next review October 2018
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Policy version control sheetDocument Status / Current
Policy Number / 53
Version Number / 2
Date of Policy / October 2016
Next review date / October 2017 (This policy is reviewed annually)
Name of originator / Shaun Davis
Approved by / Nita Ellul
Date of approval / 30.09.2016
Target Audience / Staff
Referring authorities
Parents and carers
Regulatory bodies
Links to other policies / * Internet Access & Social Media for YPs & Vulnerable Adults
* Information Management & Data Security Policy
* Confidentiality & Privacy Policy for YPs & Housemates
* Internet Access & Social Media For Staff Policy
* Anti-Bullying
* Safeguarding Children & Dealing with Allegations
* Sex And Relationships Education
*Child Sexual Exploitation
Changes to previous version
Slight changes to wording in guidance for staff
Updated and completely revised September 2016. Updated Oct 2017: Introduction added to Section 7 Guidance for Staff + Section 9 Useful Resources
Distribution
Intranet / Website / Email to managers
P / P / P
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Reviewed: October 2017: Next review October 2018
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1 Introduction
1.1 We recognise that technology plays an important and positive role in children’s lives, both educationally and socially. It is committed to helping all members of the school community to understand both the benefits and the risks, and to equip children with the knowledge and skills to be able to use technology safely and responsibly.
2 Scope
2.1 In addition to the expectations outlined in our other related policies, we recognise that cyber bullying is an increasingly common and serious phenomenon. The purpose of this policy is to make clear the response to a report of cyber bullying and as such this policy reflects the DfE guidelines on Preventing and Tackling Bullying, November 2014. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying)
2.2 The aims of this policy are to ensure that:
· pupils and staff are educated to understand what cyber bullying is and what its consequences can be
· knowledge, policies and procedures are in place to prevent incidents of cyber bullying in school or within the school community
· That we have effective measures to deal effectively with cases of cyber bullying
· That we monitor the effectiveness of prevention measures
3 Background
In line with 3 Dimensions ongoing commitment to safe and secure usage of IT equipment and technologies within 3 Dimensions School, the need to define what is cyberbullying?, and the strategies that 3 dimensions proactively implement was identified to help all pupils, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff to have an understanding of what cyberbullying is and how to prevent and identify it. By doing this our aim is for:
· All teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on cyberbullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
· All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on cyberbullying, and what they should do if cyberbullying arises.
4 What is cyber-bullying?
4.1 Bullying is a deliberate, conscious, repeated intention to hurt, victimise threaten or frighten someone.
4.2 It can be an extension of face to- face bullying, with technology providing the bully with another route to harass their target.
4.3 However, it differs in several significant ways from other kinds of bullying:
· The invasion of home and personal space; the difficulty in controlling electronically circulated messages.
· the size of the audience.
· perceived anonymity
4.4 Cyberbullying, like all bullying, should be taken very seriously. It is never acceptable, as a range of Education Acts and government guidance outline. Including:
· Preventing and Tackling Bullying (Advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies) October 2014 & November 2014
· Keeping Children safe in Education (Statutory guidance for schools & colleges) September 2016
4.5 The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) includes legal powers that relate more directly to cyberbullying; it outlines the power of head teachers to regulate the conduct of pupils when they are off-site and provides a defence in relation to the confiscation of mobile phones and other items.
4.6 Although cyberbullying is not a specific criminal offence; there are criminal laws that can apply in terms of harassment and threatening and menacing communications. Schools should contact the police if they feel that the law has been broken.
4.7 Cyberbullying takes different forms: threats and intimidation; harassment or “cyberstalking” (E.g. repeatedly sending unwanted texts or instant messages); vilification/ defamation; exclusion or peer rejection; impersonation; unauthorised publication of private information or images (including what are sometimes misleadingly referred to as ‘happy slapping’ images); and manipulation.
4.8 Some cyberbullying is clearly deliberate and aggressive, but it is important to recognise that some incidents of cyberbullying are known to be unintentional and the result of simply not thinking about the consequences.
4.9 What may be sent as a joke, may not be received as one, and indeed the distance that technology allows in communication means the sender may not see the impact of the message on the receiver.
4.10 It is important that pupils are made aware of the effects of their actions.
4.11 In cyberbullying, bystanders can easily become perpetrators – by passing on or showing to others images designed to humiliate, for example, or by taking part in online polls or discussion groups.
4.12 It is recommended that antibullying policies refer to those ‘bystanders’ – better termed ‘accessories’ in this context – who actively support cyberbullying and set out sanctions for this behaviour.
4.13 It is important that pupils are aware that their actions have severe and distressing consequences and that participating in such activity will not be tolerated.
4.14 Cyber bullying can happen at any time of day outside of the School grounds in places previously regarded as safe like the home. The audience for electronically circulated messages can be large and circulation is hard to control.
4.15 The bully and the bullied may never be in the same physical space so cyber bullying can appear anonymous.
4.16 Cyber bullying can take place between people of different ages and generations including teachers and being a bystander makes someone an accessory to bullying although it is recognised that some instances will be unintentional.
4.17 Cyber bullying includes the malicious use of:
· Mobile phones
· Instant messaging
· Chat rooms and message boards
· Video hosting sites such as Youtube
· Social network sites such as Facebook
· Webcams
· Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)
5 How 3 Dimensions Prevents And Deal With Cyberbullying
5.1 3 Dimensions has a proactive approach in preventing cyber bullying through the inclusion of the topic in ICT lessons, by monitoring of ICT use in school and by including an internet safety awareness programme as part of the ICT curriculum. Pupils will be encouraged to report anything which concerns them.
5.2 As a school we take cyberbullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when cyberbullying is reported.
5.3 Cyberbullying will not be tolerated.
5.4 3 Dimension ensures that learners, parents and staff are all aware of the procedures for dealing with cyberbullying, including bullying that takes place out of school.
5.5 3 Dimensions is aware that the technologies available to pupils are constantly changing and, as a result, 3 Dimensions provision to prevent cyber bullying is reviewed annually
5.6 Strategies require continuous review and refinement as new technologies and services become popular.
5.7 All incidences of cyber bullying will be investigated by 3 Dimensions and the investigation carefully recorded with evidence being retained.
5.8 What to do with a report of cyber bullying:
· Reassure the person making the disclosure.
· Advise on how to prevent further instances and also how to keep the relevant evidence.
· Stop the circulation of the material.
5.9 When the bully has been identified, the School will:
· Contact the parents/guardian of the bully and the victim.
· Contact the host site or phone company to make a report.
· Confiscate mobile phones or other devices used to cyber bully and ask for information on who else may be in possession of the material.
5.10 The bully will be educated in the seriousness of their actions and the effect on the victim. Further action could include limited internet access, prohibiting the use of mobile phones in school or home.
5.11 In most cases the School will deal with matters internally, but in serious cases the School may refer the matter to the police and/or social care/local safeguarding children board, for example when
· There is evidence of a serious criminal offence being or about to be committed.
· The victim has suffered or is at risk of suffering serious harm, including self-harm.
· There is evidence or suspicion of adult involvement.
· Any of the children involved are on the Child Protection Register.
5.12 The case will also be passed to OFSTED (who have responsibility for the welfare of boarders).
6 Signs and Symptoms
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being cyberbullied.
6.1 Teaching and Non-teaching staff should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:
· is frightened of walking to or from school
· changes their usual routine
· is unwilling to go to school
· becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence
· begins to do poorly in school work
· has a desire to remain with adults
· Shows changes in their behaviour
· These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated
7 GUIDANCE FOR STAFF
Introduction
7.1 All staff need to understand the way young people communicate with others, and the potential risks.
7.2 Asking young people simply not to use technology is not a realistic way to prevent or react to cyberbullying. Internet Matters (www.internetmatters.org) provides an overview of cyber-bullying in more detail as does the NSPCC website - bullying and cyberbullying prevention.
7.3 Staff have a challenging job. They need to know what the children are doing online and also help them to do it in a safe way.
7.4 With technology changing on a day-to-day basis, the best way to stay informed is for key workers, teaching staff and the Registered Manager to be involved.
7.5 If you suspect or are told about a cyber-bullying incident, follow the protocol outlined below:
Mobile Phones
7.6 Ask the pupil to show you the mobile phone, Note clearly everything on the screen relating to an inappropriate text message or image, to include the date, time and names.
7.7 Make a transcript of a spoken message, again record date, times and names.
7.8 Tell the pupil to save the message/image
7.9 Go and see the Education Manager or House Manager, or in their absence, a Director.
Computers
7.10 Ask the pupil to get up on-screen the material in question.
7.11 Ask the pupil to save the material.
7.12 Print off the offending material straight away.
7.13 Make sure you have got all pages in the right order and that there are no omissions.
7.14 Taking the offending material, to see the Education Manager or House Manager.
7.15 Any taken statements will then be followed up particularly if a child protection issue is presented.
7.16 3 Dimensions Policies and Guidelines for Data Handling of Confidential data on and off-site must be adhered to throughout the process (see the other related policies) GUIDANCE FOR PUPILS
The Education Team are to inform and educate all pupils on E-SAFETY in the classroom and at home (see related policies regarding Internet Access for YPs & Vulnerable Adults)
7.17 If you believe you or someone else is the victim of cyber-bullying, you must speak to an adult as soon as possible. This person could be a parent/carer, your teacher, or the Education Manager/House Manager.
7.18 Do not answer abusive messages but log and report them.
7.19 Do not delete anything until it has been shown to your Teacher, parents/guardian or the Education Manager/House Manager (even if it is upsetting, the material is important evidence which may need to be used later as proof of cyber-bullying).
7.20 Do not give out personal IT details.
7.21 Never reply to abusive e-mails.
7.22 Never reply to someone you do not know.
7.23 Stay in public areas on any site which has the capabilities for online chat.
8 Monitoring and Review
The school and 3 Dimensions as a whole keeps a record of any incidents of Cyberbullying.
8.1 The effectiveness of this and any related policies are regularly monitored and evaluated by the Education Manager and Staff.
8.2 The Education Manager reports to Directors and Data Controllers about the effectiveness of the policy.
9 Useful Resources and Further Information
· Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) – www.ceop.police.uk
· Think U Know – www.thinkuknow.co.uk
· South West Grid for Learning – www.swgfl.org.uk
· UK Safer Internet Centre – www.saferinternet.org.uk
10 References
DfE Preventing and Tackling Bullying 2013 & updated 2014
DfE Advice on Cyber Bullying for head teachers & school staff 2014
DfE Advice on Supporting children & young people who are bullied 2014
DfE Advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying 2014
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 & updated 2017
Equality Act 2010
Education and Inspection Act 2006
Education Act 2002/2011
Children Act 1989/2004/2014
Malicious Communication Act 1988
Communications Act 2003
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Reviewed: October 2017: Next review October 2018