Professional Development

The recommendations

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Teachers should be fully aware of the school's Internet access arrangements so that they know whether access to the web and to newsgroups is filtered or blocked at all.
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Senior management should ensure that appropriate time and resources for professional development are made available so that staff can keep themselves up to date with Internet issues and use.
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All staff should be able to engage in a professional development programme which covers at least the following basic objectives:
o using and understanding the Internet;
o appreciating the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet;
o understanding the potential role of the Internet across the curriculum;
o recognizing how Internet use and Personal Safety Programmes can reinforce each other;
o developing Internet-related policies with ethically-sound foundations; and,
o responding to queries from other professionals and from the wider community regarding the Internet arrangements and policies within their own establishment, and the underlying rationale.

· Schools are likely to benefit from having their own small group, which keeps up to date with Internet and Child Safety issues and shares new experience with colleagues.