Reservoir East Primary School - Mobile Phones

MOBILE PHONES – STUDENT USE

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Purpose

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Reservoir East Primary School’s (REPS) policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones during school hours.

Scope

This policy applies to:

1. All students at REPS and,

2. Students’ personal mobile phones brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.

Definitions

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network.

Policy

REPS understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At REPS:

· Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours

· Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information)

· When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Personal mobile phone use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at REPS during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.

Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Secure storage

Mobile phones owned by students at REPS are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Please note that REPS does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items. Refer to the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, REPS will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At REPS students are required to hand their mobile phones into the school administration office to be placed in a lockable cupboard.

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at REPS may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices e.g. Student Wellbeing and Engagement, Code of Conduct and/or Bullying policies.

At REPS inappropriate use of mobile phones is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted. The mobile phone must not be used:

· in any way that disrupts the learning of others

· to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls

· to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying

· to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission

· to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms

· during exams and assessments

Exceptions

Exceptions to this policy:

· may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met, specifically:

o Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and

o Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite.

· can be granted by the Principal, or by the teacher for that class, in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy.

The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

Specific exception

Documentation

For specific learning activities (class-based exception)

Unit of work, learning sequence

For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of a disability or learning difficulty

Individual Education Plan

2. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

Specific exception

Documentation

Students with a health condition

Student Health Support Plan

Students who are Young Carers

A localised student record

3. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Specific exception

Documentation

When students are offsite (not on school grounds) and unsupervised with parental permission

Risk assessment planning documentation

Students with a dual enrolment or who need to undertake intercampus travel

Risk assessment planning documentation

Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.

Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities

REPS will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps and events, including personal mobile phones.

Policy Exclusions

This policy does not apply to:

· Out-of-School-Hours Care (OSHC)

· Out-of-school-hours events

· Travelling to and from school

· Students undertaking workplace learning activities, e.g. work experience

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· Available publicly on our school’s website

· Included in staff induction processes and staff training

· Included in school newsletter

· Included in staff handbook/manual

· Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

· Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

· Code of Conduct

· Bullying

· Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy

· Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed: 5 September 2022

Consultation: School Council

Approved by: James Cumming, Principal

Next scheduled review date: 1 September 2026