Table of Contents
First created | 9 June 2020 |
Last reviewed | 9 June 2020 |
Review cycle | Two years |
Approver | Senior Leadership Team |
Owner | Projects Manager |
Stakeholders | Board, staff, students, parents |
Child Safety | National Principles 7-8 |
In the event of a transition to Rehoboth@Home due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, much of the teaching and learning will be delivered online. It is imperative that we keep the importance of how to deliver educational requirements and ensure that staff interactions with students are appropriate in a digital learning environment at the forefront of our minds.
The college has established clear and safe practices for online interactions between students and staff during Rehoboth@Home. These online communication protocols have been communicated to all members of the community.
As education professionals we rely on fostering positive relationships between staff and students. The learning environment is a place where staff have significant influence in the lives of students because these relationships involve regular communication over extended periods of time. This makes it extremely important that staff establish boundaries and foster positive relationships that do not compromise the welfare and safety of students, both in an educational setting and in a personal capacity. Examples of areas where staff may need to consider appropriate boundaries include:
These boundaries present a greater risk in the online learning environment. Many have been clarified in Consent2Go permissions, Codes of Conduct and other ICT policies; however, staff are encouraged to be familiar with and cognisant of the outworking of each of these policies.
The Teacher Registration Board WA have released an updated version of the Teacher-Student Professional Boundaries resource. It provides additional information about professional boundaries in teacher-student relationships, specifically relating to the online learning environment. It is available to assist teachers to become more informed about behaviours which may breach professional boundaries. For example, it is considered best practice for teachers to not be ‘friends’ with students on social media. This is the case whether the students attend Rehoboth or any other school.
The Resource is not a statutory code and, is not intended as an exhaustive list of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviours or activities. Teachers must exercise their own sound judgement and common sense in applying the material contained in the Resource to the situations in which they may find themselves Teachers are ultimately responsible for their own actions and will be judged by them.
The following statements apply to all online staff and student interactions:
It is a requirement that College-approved platforms be used for interactions with students and parents. The College strongly advises against sharing personal phone numbers or emails with students or parents. Student access to staff members’ personal internet locations (e.g. social networking sites – Facebook, Instagram, etc.) is not permitted.
Staff are asked to clarify for parents and students what days/times they will be available/online/able to respond and should set realistic response times. Unless otherwise indicated, staff are available from Monday to Friday on school agreed platforms between 8:20 AM – 3:30 PM.
If a student engages in appropriate behaviour towards a staff member online, then immediate respectful steps must be taken to discourage the behaviour and the matter should be reported and documented promptly with the Principal and a plan of action developed to support the student and relevant staff member.
From the moment you call or walk into one of our offices, we aim to make it as straightforward and pleasurable an experience as possible.
Whether you prefer to send your child to Wilson or Kenwick Primary, we are able to offer consistent educational programs between both campuses.