Children safest managing own internet - report (From This Is Cheshire)

Children safest managing own internet - report

3:30pm Wednesday 10th March 2010

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OFSTED has revealed that children are at their safest using the internet in schools when left to manage what sites they visit.

The claim comes after a report undertaken by the Government Watchdog which states that schools that use ‘managed’ systems, where students are trusted to police their own online activity, provides a ‘better knowledge and understanding of how to stay safe’.

Ofsted believe that the self-management of risk encourages pupils to take more responsibility for their own safety after research in 35 schools nationwide showed that those with outstanding provisions for e-safety employed the ‘managed’ system.

Schools in Warrington, however, use a system in which sites deemed inappropriate are locked and remain inaccessible for children.

Ofsted believe that this approach does not prepare young web users when they use an internet link that is not locked, such as at home or in an internet cafe .

IT staff at Culceth High School said that the council controlled how the internet is provided in schools and set levels of security. Schools have the option to filter a larger number of sites but not the authority to make internet access more flexible, something Ofsted recommends.

A council spokesperson said: "We currently use a filtered internet service approved by BECTA in all schools, which blocks sites with illegal and inappropriate content. “Further filtering of sites above and beyond this can also take place in individual schools.

"We have an e-safety policy, which has been approved by both primary and secondary head teachers in the borough.

“This policy is regularly reviewed in response to the changes in national guidance, developments in legislation and through our ongoing commitment to e-safety.”

NASUWT chief John Rimmer said a managed system could work but difficulties must be overcome first.

“It is fraught with one or two difficulties,” he said.

“The student needs to understand the consequences of what they could look at on the internet.

“Children will need guidance on how to decide what is safe to look at - with the correct support the system could work.”

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