📒Cyber Safety Policy (QA2) (video needed)

National Quality Standard (NQS) - Quality Area 2: Children's health and safety

Implementation

Cyber Safety encompasses technologies such as the Internet, and electronic communication devices, software programs including mobile phones and other wireless technology. With increasingly sophisticated and affordable communication technologies, there is a candid need for children and young people to be methodically informed of both the benefits and risks of using these new technologies and provides safeguards and awareness for users to enable them to control their online experiences and the appropriate use of all technologies.

Our Service has demanding cyber safety practices and education programs in place, which are inclusive of appropriate use agreements for Educators and Families. Our educational software program provides families with up to date information about their child’s development in way of daily reports, observations, photos, portfolios, and email communications. 

The cyber safety agreement includes information about the software program, the Services’ obligations and responsibilities, and the nature of possible consequences associated with cyber safety. privacy and bullying breaches. Once the agreement is signed, families and educators will have access to the educational software program. 

Educational Software Program

Woodlands uses Xplor which is a password protected private program for children, educators, and families to share observations, photos, videos, daily reports, and portfolios.  Families are able to view their child/children’s learning and development and contribute general comments relating to their child or comment on observation or daily reports. 

Educators are alerted via email and on their dashboard when a family member has added a comment. Likewise, families are altered via email when a relevant educator has posted about their child. 

Access to a child’s information & development is only granted by their primary guardians.  No personal information is shared with any third party. 

Xplor is an app and web-based database software that connects families and children with their chosen care environment.  Xplor assists educators in producing quality educational programs by making documentation simple and effective, freeing up time for them to spend engaging and building relationships with the children in their care, and their families.

Confidentiality & Privacy:

• The principles of confidentiality and privacy extend to accessing or inadvertently viewing and disclosing information about personnel, or children and their families, which is stored on the Service’s network or any device 
• Privacy laws are such that educators or other employees should seek advice from Service management regarding matters such as the collection and/or display/publication of images (such as personal images of children or adults), as well as text (such as children’s personal writing)
•  Ministry of Education guidelines should be followed regarding issues of privacy, safety and copyright associated with the online publication of children’s personal details or work.
• All material submitted for publication on the Service Internet/Intranet site should be appropriate to the Service’s learning environment 
• The material can be posted only by those given the authority to do so by the Service management 
• The Service management should be consulted regarding links to appropriate websites being placed on the Service’s Internet/Intranet (or browser homepages) to provide quick access to sites

Management will ensure:

• The Service works with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) security specialist to ensure the latest security systems are in place to ensure best practice. These can block access to unsuitable websites, newsgroups, and chat rooms. However, none of these tools is foolproof - they cannot be a substitute for active parental involvement in a child's use of the internet

A Nominated Supervisor/ Responsible Person /Educators will:

• Ensure to use netiquette by adhering to Service policies and procedures for staying safe online. Even if you are confident about Cybersafety it would be a good idea to check if all those invited to your account have the required knowledge.
• Keep passwords confidential and not share it with anyone. 
• Never request a family member’s password or personal details via email
• Report anyone who is acting suspiciously, or requesting information, which they feel uncomfortable about.

Families:

• When sharing anything using technologies such as computers, mobile devices, email, and the internet it is important you and everyone else invited to your account understands about netiquette and staying safe online, ensuring privacy adheres too. Even if you were confident about Cybersafety it would be a good idea to check if all those invited to your account have the required knowledge.
• When it comes to your own children, it is your choice what you share outside of the Service. Remember though that young child cannot make their own decisions about what gets published online so you have a responsibility to make sure whatever is shared is in your children's best interests.
• Sometimes other children in the Service may feature in the same photos, videos and observations as your children. In these cases, never duplicate or upload them to the internet/social networking sites or share them with anyone other than family members without those children's parents' permission.