Mobile PhonePolicy

The Japanese School

Approved by:

SchoolManagement
Committee

Last reviewed on:

January 2024

Next review due by:

January 2025

1Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

Date: January 2024

Version Number
1.0

Modified By
K Okamoto2Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

Modifications Made
Creation of Mobile Phone Policy

Date Modified
24/11/2023

Contents
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1. Introduction and aims .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Roles and responsibilities ................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Use of mobile phones by staff ............................................................................................................................. 3
4. Use of mobile phones by pupils .......................................................................................................................... 4
5. Use of mobile phones by parents/carers, volunteers and visitors ....................................................................... 5
6. Loss, theft or damage ......................................................................................................................................... 5
7. Monitoring and review ......................................................................................................................................... 6

1. Introduction and aims
At the Japanese School in London we recognise that mobile phones, including smart phones, are an importantpart of everyday life for our pupils, parents/carers and staff, as well as the wider school community.
Our policy aims to:•••

Promote, and set an example for, safe and responsible phone use
Set clear guidelines for the use of mobile phones for pupils, staff, parents/carers and volunteersSupport the school’s other policies, especially those related to child protection and behaviour

This policy also aims to address some of the challenges posed by mobile phones in school, such as:•••••

Risks to child protection
Data protection issues
Potential for lesson disruption
Risk of theft, loss, or damage
Appropriate use of technology in the classroom

2. Roles and responsibilities
2.1 Staff
All staff (including teachers, support staff and supply staff) are responsible for enforcing this policy.
Volunteers, or anyone else otherwise engaged by the school, must alert a member of staff if they witness, or areaware of, a breach of this policy.
The headteacher is responsible for monitoring the policy every year, reviewing it, and holding staff and pupils
accountable for its implementation.

2.2 School Management Committee (SMC)The SMC will evaluate and approve this policy at each review, ensuring it complies with the law, and hold theheadteacher to account for its implementation.

3. Use of mobile phones by staff
3.1 Personal mobile phones
Staff (including volunteers, contractors and anyone else otherwise engaged by the school) are not permitted tomake or receive calls, or send texts, while children are present/during contact time. Use of personal mobilephones must be restricted to non-contact time, and to areas of the school where pupils are not present (such as
the staffroom).

3Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

There may be circumstances in which it’s appropriate for a member of staff to have use of their phone during 4• For emergency contact by their child, or their child’s school• In the case of acutely ill dependents or family members
The headteacher will decide on a case-by-basis whether to allow for special arrangements. If special
arrangements are not deemed necessary, school staff can use the school office telephone number as a point ofemergency contact.

3.2 Data protection
Staff must not use their personal mobile phones to process personal data, or any other confidential school
information, including entering such data into generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as chatbots (e.g.
ChatGPT and Google Bard).

3.3 Safeguarding
Staff must refrain from giving their personal contact details to parents/carers or pupils, including connecting
through social media and messaging apps.
Staff must avoid publicising their contact details on any social media platform or website, to avoid unwanted
contact by parents/carers or pupils.
Staff must not use their mobile phones to take photographs or recordings of pupils, their work, or anything else
which could identify a pupil. If it’s necessary to take photos or recordings as part of a lesson/school trip/activity,
this must be done using school equipment.

3.4 Using personal mobiles for work purposes
School provides school mobile phones.

3.5 Work phones
Some members of staff are provided with a mobile phone by the school for work purposes.
Only authorised staff are permitted to use school phones, and access to the phone must not be provided toanyone without authorisation.
Staff must:• Only use phone functions for work purposes, including making/receiving calls, sending/receiving emails
or other communications, or using the internet• Ensure that communication or conduct linked to the device is appropriate and professional at all times,
in line with our staff code of conduct.

3.6 SanctionsStaff that fail to adhere to this policy may face disciplinary action. See the school’s staff disciplinary policy formore information.

4. Use of mobile phones by pupils••••

Children are allowed to bring mobile phones to and from school to ensure their personal safety at all times.
Children must not use a mobile device, smart watch or electronic device including headphones anywhere inschool during the school day, except under the specific direction of a teacher. For the purposes of this policy,
the school day begins the moment the children enter the school site and ends once the children leave theschool site. Mobile phones will not be permitted to be used at any after school extra-curricular clubs.
If a child brings their phone to the school, then on arrival it should be switched off/on silent and kept out ofsight, for example in a bag or locker. It should not be seen or heard (including vibrate) throughout the schoolday.
The phone can be switched back on upon leaving the school site. Not before and not during any period ofsocial time (break or lunch).

Pupils must adhere to the school’s Code of conduct/acceptable use agreement for mobile phone use (seeappendix 1).

4Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

4.1 Sanctions•••

Any child found using or known to have used their phone during the school day will have the phone
confiscated and returned at the end of the school day by class teacher. (Schools are permitted to confiscatephones from pupils under sections 91 and 94 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006). Staff have thepower to search pupils’ phones, as set out in the DfE’s guidance on searching, screening and confiscation.
The DfE guidance allows you to search a pupil’s phone if you have reason to believe the phone contains
pornographic images, or if it is being/has been used to commit an offence or cause personal injury.
If the child is a repeat offender, the school will request a parent/carer to come in and collect the phone fromthe school.
Any refusal to hand a phone over to members of staff will result in a follow up sanction in line with theschool’s Behaviour policy. This would constitute the refusal of a reasonable request by a member of staff.

Certain types of conduct, bullying or harassment can be classified as criminal conduct. The school takes suchconduct extremely seriously and will involve the police or other agencies as appropriate. Such conduct includes,
but is not limited to:
Sexting (consensual and non-consensual sharing nude or semi-nude images or videos)UpskirtingThreats of violence or assault
Abusive calls, emails, social media posts or texts directed at someone on the basis of someone’sethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation

5. Use of mobile phones by parents/carers, volunteers and visitors
Parents/carers, visitors and volunteers (including governors and contractors) must adhere to this policy as it
relates to staff if they are on the school site during the school day. This means:•••

Not taking pictures or recordings of pupils, unless it’s a public event (such as a school fair), or of their own
child
Using any photographs or recordings for personal use only and request that parents do not post these images
or recordings on social media
Not using phones in lessons, or when working with pupils

Parents/carers, visitors and volunteers will be informed of the rules for mobile phone use when they sign in atreception or attend a public event at school. See Appendix 2: Template mobile phone information slip for visitors
Parents/carers or volunteers supervising school trips or residential visits must not:••Use their phone to make contact with other parents/carers
Take photos or recordings of pupils, their work, or anything else which could identify a pupil

Parents/carers or volunteers supervising trips are also responsible for enforcing the school’s policy for pupils
using their phones, as set out in section 4 above.
Parents/carers must use the school office as the first point of contact if they need to get in touch with their childduring the school day. They must not try to contact their child on his/her personal mobile during the school day.

6. Loss, theft or damage
Pupils bringing phones to school must ensure that phones are stored securely when not in use.
Pupils must secure their phones as much as possible, including using passwords or pin codes to protect accessto the phone’s functions. Staff must also secure their personal phones, as well as any work phone provided tothem. Failure by staff to do so could result in data breaches.
The school accepts no responsibility for mobile phones that are lost, damaged or stolen on school premises ortransport, during school visits or trips, or while pupils are travelling to and from school.

5Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

Confiscated phones will be stored in the school office/ staff room in a secure location/locked cabinet.
Lost phones should be returned to the deputy head teacher. The school will then attempt to contact the owner.

7. Monitoring and review
The school is committed to ensuring that this policy has a positive impact of pupils’ education, behaviour andwelfare. When reviewing the policy, the school will take into account:Feedback from parents/carers and pupils
Feedback from teachers
Records of behaviour and safeguarding incidents
Relevant advice from the Department for Education, the local authority or other relevant organisations

6Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

Appendix 1: Code of conduct/acceptable use agreement for pupils
Code of conduct/acceptable use agreement
You must obey the following rules if you bring your mobile phone to school:1.You are not allowed to use your mobile phone during school day,
2.Phones must be switched off (not just put on ‘silent’).

7Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0

Appendix 2: Template mobile phone information slip for visitors
Use of mobile phones in our school••••

Please keep your mobile phone on silent/vibrate while on the school grounds
Please do not use phones where pupils are present. If you must use your phone, you may get
permission from the school
Do not take photos or recordings of pupils or staff unless it’s a public event (such as a school fair), or of
their own child and we request that visitors do not post these images or recordings on social media
Do not use your phone in lessons, or when working with pupils

The school accepts no responsibility for phones that are lost, damaged or stolen while you are on the schoolgrounds.
A full copy of our mobile phone policy is available from the school office.

Use of mobile phones in our school••••

Please keep your mobile phone on silent/vibrate while on the school grounds
Please do not use phones where pupils are present. If you must use your phone, you may get
permission from the school
Do not take photos or recordings of pupils or staff unless it’s a public event (such as a school fair), or of
their own child and we request that visitors do not post these images or recordings on social media
Do not use your phone in lessons, or when working with pupils

The school accepts no responsibility for phones that are lost, damaged or stolen while you are on the school
grounds.
A full copy of our mobile phone policy is available from the school office.

Use of mobile phones in our school••••

Please keep your mobile phone on silent/vibrate while on the school grounds
Please do not use phones where pupils are present. If you must use your phone, you may get
permission from the school
Do not take photos or recordings of pupils or staff unless it’s a public event (such as a school fair), or of
their own child and we request that visitors do not post these images or recordings on social media
Do not use your phone in lessons, or when working with pupils

The school accepts no responsibility for phones that are lost, damaged or stolen while you are on the schoolgrounds.
A full copy of our mobile phone policy is available from the school office.

Use of mobile phones in our school••••

Please keep your mobile phone on silent/vibrate while on the school grounds
Please do not use phones where pupils are present. If you must use your phone, you may get
permission from the school
Do not take photos or recordings of pupils or staff unless it’s a public event (such as a school fair), or of
their own child and we request that visitors do not post these images or recordings on social media
Do not use your phone in lessons, or when working with pupils

The school accepts no responsibility for phones that are lost, damaged or stolen while you are on the school
grounds.
A full copy of our mobile phone policy is available from the school office.

8Mobile Phone policy 202311 v1.0