Safe Internet Use

Planet Warriors Kids Club 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.

The club’s laptops and tablets will be used by the staff team for signing children in and out, research and email communication.

The club’s laptops and tablets will be used by the children for homework research or for supervised activities with a member of the team, for example researching resources or activity ideas.

The laptops and tablets used by the children will have the internet provider’s parental controls on to ensure safe internet use.

Parental permission

Children will only be allowed to access the internet at the Club if their parent or carer has given permission.

Guidelines for children

A printed copy of the SMART guidelines are on display. The guidelines are explained to any children wishing to access the internet:

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:

  • Google SafeSearch Filtering is turned on

  • YouTube Restricted Mode is set to on

  • The Internet Providers Parental Settings are 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 Record in the child’s file. The child’s parent will be asked to sign the Incident Record. The manager will investigate how to prevent a recurrence 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.

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2023): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Child Protection [3.4 – 3.8].