Technology and Internet Use Policy

Mobile phone usage by staff:

Due to the nature of our setting and business staff will have mobile phones with them whilst working. These will be locked. Should staff members need to use their mobile phones they will use them in a space away from the children. Mobile phones will only be used around children in emergency situations to call for help or contact that child's parents/carers. 

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Mobile phones will not be used to take pictures, videos or sound recordings of children. 

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Staff mobile phones will not be used by the children. 

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Mobile phone usage by children:

Children will not be allowed access to staff mobile phones. Older children who attend Bubbles and have their own mobile phones will be asked to hand these to staff to be locked away with staff phones until the child goes home. Should children need to use their mobile phones to contact parents of for medical reasons they will be supervised to do this is a space away from other children. Children will not be allowed to play games, access the internet or message friends using their own phones whilst at Bubbles and will not be allowed to have their phones out around other children. 

 

Mobile phone usage by other adults:

Other adults who may be on the premises during operating hours, such as family members of staff or guests, may have mobile phones. They will not be allowed to use their phones whilst in rooms where children are or could become present. Adults may use their phones in rooms that are not used for childcare so long as phone conversations or media cannot be over heard by children. This will be monitored by staff.

 

We ask parents to refrain from using their mobile phones whilst on the premises. Parents must not take pictures, videos or sound recordings whilst on the premisis, even of their own children, unless given express permission by a member of staff who witnesses the use. Please finish any phone call or messages before dropping of or collecting your child and please do not answer phone calls whilst on sight. It is important that parents, staff and children are able to communicate respectfully at each drop off and pick up to ensure a full and efficient handover. 

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Other electronic devices:

The regulations above apply to all electronic devices with internet access used on sight except for the follow. 

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Tablet - We have one tablet that can be used by children for the purposes of educational games, research and photo's of work or activities. Children will be closely monitored whilst using the tablet and taught about safe internet use and respectful photo taking. The device will have parental controls and children will never be left alone with the tablet. The tablet will not leave the premises and any photo's or recordings will be checked and printed or deleted at the end of each day. 

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Laptop Computer - We have one laptop computer that may be used by children for the purposes of educational games, research and word processing or power point creation as well as ICT lessons. Children will be monitored when using the laptop and never left alone with the device. Children will be taught about safe internet use and will not be allowed to access any social media platforms.

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Cameras and photo's - We will use the tablet to take photo's of children and their work in order to gather educational evidence and share exciting experiences with parents and carers. These photo's will be transferred to a secure file at the end of each day and then deleted from the tablet. Photo's will only be taken and used with parents written permission. We may use photo's to create learning journals for children, create displays around the setting, share learning and fun with parents and carers and post to our Bubbles website and Facebook page. Again, we will seek written permission from parents and carers for each of these things and consent for use of photographs can be revoked at any time. 

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When on trips and outings in the community a camera will be used to take pictures and these will be transferred to the secure file at the end of the day and then deleted from the camera.

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Any photo's, videos or audio recordings made of children will be deleted once they have been used for the agreed purpose. We will never keep or share photo's of children without express permission.