Distance Learning – AUP Policy

St. Mary’s Primary School, Grace Park Rd. Athlone

Distance learning – Acceptable Use Policy (October 2020)

1. Rationale and Aims

During school closures, we need to maintain the link between school and home, and continue to communicate with pupils through various means.  

We recognise that online safety is of huge importance and this document is intended to help protect both school staff and pupils, while online.

This policy applies to all locations from which school personal data is accessed including home use.

We recognise that online collaboration is essential for distance learning and to provide opportunities to maintain the connection between school and home.

As we try new ways of supporting distance learning, this document may be updated.

2. Guidelines for good online communication in St. Mary’s Primary School

3. When communicating by email, teachers will only communicate via a parent’s email address, and will not communicate directly with a pupil using the pupil’s email address.
4. Under no circumstances can pictures or recordings be taken of video calls. 
5. Staff, families and students are expected to behave in an appropriate, safe, respectful and kind manner online.
6. It is the duty of parents/guardians to supervise children while they are working online and to ensure any content which they are submitting to their teacher is appropriate.
7. Staff members MAY communicate with pupils and their families through an established app (eg. Seesaw). 
8. Any electronic forms of communication will be for educational purposes and to allow for communication with families.
9. Students and staff will communicate using tools which have been approved by the school and of which parents have been notified (Seesaw, GSuite & Email)
10. Parental permission will be acquired before setting up a profile for a pupil on a communication forum.
11. For video calls, parental permission is implied, as the link to a video call will be communicated via the parent/guardian’s email address. Essentially, by virtue of the pupil logging on to the call, permission is assumed.
12. For security reasons, passwords will be provided to families, where applicable.
13. Mary’s Primary School can not accept responsibility for the security of online platforms, in the event that they are hacked.
14. Communication using a mobile phone will not be frequent, but where it is necessary, staff members will ensure that their caller ID is private. 

3. Guidelines for staff members using online communication methods:

1. Under no circumstances can pictures or recordings be taken of video calls. 
2. Staff members will communicate with pupils and families during school hours where possible. 
3. Staff members will have high expectations regarding pupil behaviour, with any communication which takes place online. 
4. Staff members will seek to become familiar with apps before using them with pupils.
5. Staff will check that consent has been given, before setting up a pupil profile for an online app. 
6. Staff members will report any concerns regarding online behaviour or interactions to Principal. 
7. Staff members will notify parents/guardians of the date, time and password for a video call via email. 
8. Staff members will only admit participants to video conferences, if they recognise the email address/username as being connected to a pupil.
9. When communicating by email, teachers will only communicate via a parent’s email address, and will not communicate directly with a pupil using the pupil’s email address.

   Rules for pupils using online communication methods:
   a) For submitting learning:

1.Submit work and pictures that are appropriate – have an adult take a look at your work before you send it.

2.Use kind and friendly words.
b) For video calls

1. Pictures or recordings of the video call are not allowed.

2. Remember our school rules – they are still in place, even online. 

3. Set up your device in a quiet space, with no distractions in the background.

4. Join the video with your microphone muted.

5. Raise your hand before speaking, just like you would do in class.

6. If you have the chance to talk, speak in your normal voice, using kind and friendly words.

7. Show respect by listening to others while they are speaking.

8. Ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the video call.

9. Be on time – set a reminder if it helps.

10. Enjoy! Don’t forget to wave hello to everyone when you join! 

Guidelines for parents and guardians:

a) For learning

1. It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that pupils are supervised while they work online. 

2. Check over the work which pupils send to their teacher, ensuring it is appropriate.

3. Continue to revise online safety measures with pupils.

b)For video calls

1. Under no circumstances can pictures or recordings be taken of video calls. 

2. Ensure that the school has the correct email address for inviting you to join apps and meetings.

3. The main purpose of a video call is to maintain a social connection between the school staff and pupils at this difficult time. Encourage pupils to listen and enjoy the experience.

4. Be aware that when participating in group video calls, you can be seen and heard unless you are muted or have disabled your camera. 

5. Please ensure that your child is on time for a scheduled video, or they may be locked out.

6.Please request to join the call approximately five minutes before the scheduled start time. This will give school staff time to verify your email address. 

7. Make sure to familiarise your child with the software in advance. For video in particular, show them how to mute/unmute and turn the camera on/off.

8. Participants in the call should be dressed appropriately.

9. An appropriate background/room should be chosen for the video call.

For detailed information on GDPR please visit  https://web.seesaw.me/privacy-policy

https://workspace.google.com/terms/education_privacy.html. This document should be read in conjunction with St. Mary’s N.S. GDPR policy.

It is important to note that any breach of the above guidelines will result in a discontinuation of this method of communication. A breach may also result in a person being immediately removed from a meeting or  a meeting being immediately terminated. In this case, the child’s parent will receive a report on the incident.
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Ratification and Review

This AUP document was ratified by the BOM on:

Date:                            Chairperson:                 Principal:

It is will be reviewed as necessary in the changing circumstances.