Internet use permission letter

Dear Parent,

Use of the Internet and e-mail in school

As part of the school’s information and communications technology (ICT)
programme, we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet and e-mail. Before the
school allows students to use these facilities, they must obtain parental permission.
Both pupils and parents must sign and return an Internet Use Permission Form as
evidence of their acceptance of the school’s Rules for Responsible ICT Use. Copies
of both are enclosed with this letter.

Various projects have proven the educational benefits of Internet and e-mail access,
which enable pupils to explore a wide range of information sources, and
communicate and collaborate with other learners throughout the world. Although
there are concerns about children having access to inappropriate material via the
Internet, the school takes a range of measures to minimise these risks. A filtering
system is in operation which restricts access to inappropriate materials, and this is
supplemented by an Internet safety programme for all pupils which teaches the safe
and appropriate behaviours to adopt when using the internet, e-mail and other
technologies.

Although Internet use is supervised and filtered within our school, families should be
aware that some pupils may find ways to access material that is inaccurate,
defamatory, illegal, or potentially offensive to some people. As with any other area,
parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the
standards that their children should follow when using media and information
sources. The school therefore supports and respects each family’s right to decide
whether or not to apply for access.

During school, teachers will guide students towards appropriate material. At home,
families bear the same responsibility for guidance as they exercise with other
information sources such as television, telephones, films and radio.

If you decide to support your child’s application for access to the Internet, please
read the enclosed Rules for Responsible ICT Use, complete and sign the enclosed
permission form and return it to me by the end of term. The school has a number of
leaflets from national bodies that explain issues further and also cover Internet use at
home. If you would like copies of these, please contact the school. Should you wish
to discuss any aspect of Internet use, or to see a lesson in operation, please
telephone to arrange an appointment.

Yours sincerely,

Schools should tailor the letter to their own circumstances, and enclose their
acceptable use policy or rules for responsible ICT use with this letter.


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