If you decide to promote distance teaching and learning your safeguarding duties still apply.
There are numerous online services and systems that you could use to allow remote teaching including G-Suite and Office 365. However, the use of any distance teaching and learning resource may present a potential risk to the safeguarding of pupils.
- Remind all staff and pupils that they should avoid one-to-one tutoring and messaging unless there has been pre-approval and the communications can be audited.
- Staff and pupils should only use school systems for communication.Do not use personal accounts including personal email addresses. Staff should not provide their personal mobile or home phone numbers to pupils.
- All online ‘chats’ should always include (or be visible by) at least two staff and/or students. Schools should also ensure that these chats are auditable. The professional boundaries that apply in school also apply to the online environment.
- Where a school decides to arrange video tutoring, consideration must be given to what might be seen within the background. Staff and pupils must ensure that sensitive, personal or private material cannot be seen in shot.
- Remind staff and pupils about your schools Acceptable Use Policy and in particular remind everyone about password security
- Remind staff and pupils of the school’s procedures for reporting any inappropriate or worrying online activity.
See our guidance on available distance learning resources
See the NEN advice on distance teaching and learning.