Mobile Phones - Student Use Policy

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact the office on 9560 6371 or glen.waverley.south.ps@education.vic.gov.au

 

Purpose

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Glen Waverley South Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal mobile devices such as smart watches during school hours. 

 

Scop

This policy applies to:

1. All students at Glen Waverley South Primary School and,
2. Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices such as smart watches, 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. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.”

 

Policy

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

At Glen Waverley South Primary School:

• Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored in the office during school hours, with the exception of smart watches.
• 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 Glen Waverley South 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 owned by students at Glen Waverley South 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 to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so.  Please note that Glen Waverley South 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 Glen Waverley South Primary School’s Personal Property Policy AND/OR the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.

With the exception of smart watches, where students bring a mobile phone to school, Glen Waverley South Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Glen Waverley South Primary School students are required to store their phones by signing them into the school administration office to be securely stored.

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Glen Waverley South Primary School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices - Student Wellbeing and Engagement and/or Code of Conduct or Bullying policies.

At Glen Waverley South Primary School inappropriate use of mobile phones 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

 

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
Travelling to and from excursions	Risk assessment planning documentation
Students on excursions and camps	Risk assessment planning 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

Glen Waverley South 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.

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 school newsletter
• Included in staff handbook/manual
• Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings
• Included in transition and enrolment packs
• Discussed at parent information nights/sessions
• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Personal Property
• Bullying Prevention Policy
• Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy

• Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy

 

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed	February 2024
Consultation	School Council – March 2024
Approved by	Principal
Next scheduled review date	February 2026