Guidance for Safer Working Practice 2019

[nikaso]

We've just had the Guidance for Safer Working Practice 2019 document through which we are expected to read and confirm we have accepted it's contents. On reading through I noticed a particular new change which I think is massively over the top....

 

 

12. Communication with children (including the

use of technology)

 

This means that adults should:

 

▪ turn off 3G/4G data access on school

premises

 

Are they seriously telling us we have to turn off our mobile data on personal devices?

[FishCustard]

And the way its worded would seem to mean that parents, visitors, contractors, etc. would also have to turn it off, which is ridiculous. This isn't a risk-based approach, it's reactionary nonsense.

[localzuk]

Where is that document from? Only I cannot find a 2019 version of it anywhere - only a 2015 version.

 

It is also a "guidance" document, and not statutory. We couldn't adopt it here, for example, as we use phones as part of our jobs...

[FishCustard]

Would also like to know this - I can't find it either.

[nikaso]

This is the document we have been sent via email, doesn't look like it has made it to the DfE site yet.

 

GSWP May 2019 changes highlighted.pdf

 

Reading it in more detail it is an expansion of the original DfE document with some added bits that employers can choose to adopt as their staff conduct code.

Edited May 22, 2019 by nikaso

[localzuk]

It isn't by the DfE, its by the "Safer Recruitment Consortium". I'd question how these changes were sourced and why to be honest.

 

Also, I'm not sure where that line has come from. Why does a section about safe communication with children have any comment on staff owned devices having 3g/4g on them?

 

One thing is for sure - it is not supposed to be used wholesale, without consideration to your school's operation. If we were to look at that, we would write our own policy based on it, and the 3g/4g part would be removed. We have a "all personal phones must be handed in" at nurseries, but at schools this isn't policy as it is unrealistic.

[nikaso]

It isn't by the DfE, its by the "Safer Recruitment Consortium".

 

Also, I'm not sure where that line has come from. Why does a section about safe communication with children have any comment on staff owned devices having 3g/4g on them?

 

One thing is for sure - it is not supposed to be used wholesale, without consideration to your school's operation. If we were to look at that, we would write our own policy based on it, and the 3g/4g part would be removed. We have a "all personal phones must be handed in" at nurseries, but at schools this isn't policy as it is unrealistic.

 

Absolutely, several staff have independently raised concerns about this being adopted. Still might be useful as a warning if any other schools are members of this consortium and this comes their way.