Mobile Phone and Other Personal Mobile Device Policy

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If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.

 

As valuable partners in your child's wellbeing, learning and engagement at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.

 

Purpose

To explain to our school community the Department’s and William Ruthven Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal mobile devices during school hours.

 

Scope

This policy applies to:

  1. All students at William Ruthven Primary School and,
  2. Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices 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, and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.

 

Policy

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

 

At William Ruthven Primary School:

  • Students who choose to bring mobile phones or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) to school must have them switched off and securely stored at the office 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 William Ruthven Primary School 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 and other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) owned by students at William Ruthven Primary School 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 or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

 

Please note: William Ruthven Primary School 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 school’s Personal Property Policy and the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.

 

Where students bring a mobile phone or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) to school, William Ruthven Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At William Ruthven Primary School students are required to hand their phones into the school administration office to be placed in a lockable cupboard.

 

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) inappropriately at William Ruthven Primary School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices:

At William Ruthven Primary School inappropriate use of mobile phones or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:

  • 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 the policy:

  • may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met, specifically,
    • Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and
    • 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 Learning Plan, Individual Education Plan

 

  1. 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

 

  1. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Specific exception

Documentation

Travelling to and from excursions

Risk assessment planning documentation

Students on excursions and camps

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

William Ruthven Primary School will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches).

 

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to:

  • Out-of-School-Hours Care (OSHC)
  • Out-of-school-hours events
  • Travelling to and from school.

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 our school newsletter
  • Included in our staff handbook
  • Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings
  • Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

Links to related local policies:

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

 

Policy review and approval

  • Policy created: February 2024
  • Consultation: School Council (19 February 2024)
  • Approved by: School Council
  • Next scheduled review date: February 2028

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