Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee notes the report on social media and internet safety and confirm that it has received an appropriate level of assurance about the support being provided to children, young people and teachers to keep themselves safe;

(b)       That the support for schools in the ongoing development of the Digital Competence Framework (DCF) and utilising the 360 Degree Safe Cymru tool be acknowledged; and

(c)        That the Committee receive regular update reports on social media and internet safety support being provided to children, young people and teachers.

The Interim Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to provide details of social media and internet safety provided to schools. She introduced Claire Sinnott, Learning Advisor – Health Wellbeing and Safeguarding and invited her to present the report. 

                        The Learning Advisor explained that the report had been produced in response to Members seeking reassurance that children and young people in Flintshire schools were receiving appropriate support to develop their skills regarding the use of social media and internet safety.   She provided background information and context and reported on the national, regional, and local developments, as detailed in the report.

                        Councillor Kevin Hughes spoke in support of the 360 Degree Safe Cymru e-safety self-review tool and said all schools in Wales should be encouraged to take up the tool.  He congratulated Cornist Park Primary School on gaining the Online Safety Mark and emphasised the need for parental engagement and for peer to peer support to be encouraged in schools.   During discussion it was agreed that Councillor Kevin Hughes would produce a statement for local newspapers on the support being provided by the Council to children, young people, and teachers on social media and internet safety and that this would be circulated to the Committee.

            In response to the questions and comments from the Chairman and Councillor Dave Mackie around compiling all the information for teachers to access in a pack, the Learning Advisor agreed to provide an information pack and circulate to all Schools.

                        In response to a query from Councillor Tudor Jones about how the work to raise awareness amongst pupils was measured to ensure its effectiveness, the Learning Advisor explained that the Schools Health Research Network Services take part in secondary schools every two years and all schools were signed up.  She agreed to share the findings on how effective the work to raise awareness had been measured. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee notes the report on social media and internet safety and confirm that it has received an appropriate level of assurance about the support being provided to children, young people and teachers to keep themselves safe;

(b)       That the support for schools in the ongoing development of the Digital Competence Framework (DCF) and utilising the 360 Degree Safe Cymru tool be acknowledged; and

(c)        That the Committee receive regular update reports on social media and internet safety support being provided to children, young people and teachers.