Child Safety on the Internet

Mrs Fitzsimons made this Freedom of Information request to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

The request was partially successful.

From: Mrs Fitzsimons

21 October 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

This request relates to the safe use of the Internet by Primary and
Secondary School pupils in your region.

Resources:
1. The Byron Review, published 27 March 2008,
2. The Byron Review Action Plan, published 24th June 2008.
3. Written Answer from Scottish Parliament, Maureen Watt dated 24
January 2008. (S3W-08434)

The resources above relate to the safety and education of children
using the Internet at Home and School, and the responsibility of
government, local and national to ensure that children are educated
and protected whilst doing so.

Maureen Watt’s written answer stated that “The Scottish Government
wants children and young people to make full use of the internet
and is committed to ensuring that they are able to do so in a safe
and responsible manner”.

I hereby request under the Freedom of Information Act full details
of the Internet Safety Actions and Initiatives currently in place
throughout the region.

1. Internet Safety Education provided as part of the school
curriculum.

- Within your schools has a specific program aimed at teaching
children about staying safe online, including cyber bullying been
integrated into the curriculum?
- If yes, who is responsible for delivery and what
accreditations/training have they received? For example, teacher,
CEOP trained ambassador.
- If yes, how often is internet safety training integrated into the
school curriculum, i.e. weekly, monthly etc
- If no, what steps/timeframes are being taken for implementation?

2. Internet Filtering

- Do the primary and secondary schools within your authority have
internet filtering in place?
- If yes, what tools do you use? For example Hardware or Software?
- If yes, what is the name of your internet filtering supplier and
when was their contract last renewed/due for renewal?

3. Internet Filtering Breaches

- Have any of the Schools within the past 24 months experienced a
breach of Internet Filtering where children were able to access
pornography or Indecent images. Please provide details of School
Type(Primary or Secondary), Date of Breach and Type of Unsuitable
material accessed.
- If a breach of security occurred how was your authority notified?
For example, by a parent, by the school, through an automated alert
provided by hardware/software supplier.

Yours truly,
Mrs A Fitzsimons

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From: Lena Murray
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

21 October 2009

Dear Mrs Fitzsimons

I write to acknowledge receipt of your request for information and note
the terms of your request as detailed below. Your request for information
will be processed in accordance with the Act and relevant guidance issued
by the Scottish Information Commissioner. Your request for information
will be processed promptly and in any event within 20 working days from
receipt.

Yours sincerely

Lena Morrison

FOI & Equalities Officer

T: 01851 709222

E: [email address]

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From: Lena Murray
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

3 November 2009

Dear Mrs Fitzsimons

Request for Information

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ("the Act")

Child Safety on the Internet

I refer to your request for information of 21 October 2009 regarding the
safe use of the Internet by Primary and Secondary School pupils in the
Comhairle area. Please see the response to your information request
detailed below:-

1. Internet Safety Education provided as part of the school curriculum.

Within your schools has a specific program aimed at teaching children
about staying safe online, including cyber bullying been integrated into
the curriculum?

Ans: Yes, this has been ongoing for 10+ years.

If yes, who is responsible for delivery and what
accreditations/training have they received? For example, teacher, CEOP
trained ambassador.

Ans: Ongoing delivery at Education Department and School levels + CEOP
specialist input

If yes, how often is internet safety training integrated into the
school curriculum, i.e. weekly, monthly etc

Ans: It is part of an ongoing approach to safe use of ICT.

If no, what steps/timeframes are being taken for implementation?

2. Internet Filtering

Do the primary and secondary schools within your authority have
internet filtering in place?

Ans; Yes

If yes, what tools do you use? For example Hardware or Software?

Ans: Websence filtering & Forensic Tools

If yes, what is the name of your internet filtering supplier and when
was their contract last renewed/due for renewal?

Ans: DNS Ltd, 2010/11

3. Internet Filtering Breaches

Have any of the Schools within the past 24 months experienced a breach
of Internet Filtering where children were able to access pornography or
Indecent images. Please provide details of School Type(Primary or
Secondary), Date of Breach and Type of Unsuitable material accessed.

Ans: No breach of Internet Filtering

If a breach of security occurred how was your authority notified? For
example, by a parent, by the school, through an automated alert provided
by hardware/software supplier.

N/A

I trust this information is sufficient for your needs. If you are
dissatisfied with this response you can request the Comhairle to review
this response to your request for information. You have 40 days, from the
date of receipt of this response, in which to lodge this requirement for
review. A request for review must be in writing, describe your original
request and explain why are dissatisfied. An application for review
should be sent to the Chief Executive, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Council
Offices, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2BW ([1][email address]).
A request for review lodged with the Chief Executive will be processed
promptly and in any event within 20 working days of receipt.

Should you still remain dissatisfied after completion of the review
process you may apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, 10 Kinburn
Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, K16 9BS, to establish whether
your request for information has been processed in accordance with Part 1
of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Yours sincerely

Lena Morrison

Freedom of Information Officer

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