Acceptable Use of Technology Policy Templates for Educational Settings 2024-25 - Guidance Notes

Sep 2, 2026

Educational settings guidance for creating and updating Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) across communities and technology contexts, aligned with statutory safeguarding expectations such as those referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education. The document explains AUPs’ role within safeguarding portfolios and code of conduct, emphasizes Designated Safeguarding Lead ownership with SLT oversight, and provides practical direction on drafting, adapting templates, involving pupils, staff and parents, evidence of read-and-understood agreements, and linking AUPs to filtering and monitoring approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages43

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Using the AUP Templates: Guidance Notes

Key Points

Using this document

Filtering and Monitoring

Child/Pupil/Student Acceptable Use of Technology Sample Statements

Acceptable Use of Technology for Parents/Carers

Acceptable Use of Technology for Staff, Visitors and Volunteers

Acceptable Use of Technology Policy Templates for Educational Settings 2024-25 Published August 2024 Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779698" Using the AUP Templates: Guidance Notes PAGEREF _Toc141779698 \h 3 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779699" Child/Pupil/Student Acceptable Use of Technology Sample Statements PAGEREF _Toc141779699 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779700" Early Years and Key Stage 1 (0-6) PAGEREF _Toc141779700 \h 5 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779701" Key Stage 2 (7-11) PAGEREF _Toc141779701 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779702" Key Stage 3/4/5 (11-18) PAGEREF _Toc141779702 \h 8 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779703" Children/Pupils/Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) PAGEREF _Toc141779703 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779704" Acceptable Use of Technology Sample Statements and Forms for Parents/Carers PAGEREF _Toc141779704 \h 16 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779705" Parent/Carer AUP Acknowledgement Form PAGEREF _Toc141779705 \h 16 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779706" Sample Parent/Carer Acceptable Use of Technology Policy (AUP) PAGEREF _Toc141779706 \h 18 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779707" Acceptable Use of Technology for Staff, Visitors and Volunteers Sample Statements PAGEREF _Toc141779707 \h 20 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779708" Staff Acceptable Use of Technology Policy (AUP) PAGEREF _Toc141779708 \h 20 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779709" Visitor and Volunteer Acceptable Use of Technology Policy PAGEREF _Toc141779709 \h 26 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779710" Wi-Fi Acceptable Use Policy PAGEREF _Toc141779710 \h 29 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779711" Template Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for Remote/Online Learning PAGEREF _Toc141779711 \h 31 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779712" Remote/Online Learning AUP Template - Staff Statements PAGEREF _Toc141779712 \h 32 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779713" Remote/Online Learning AUP Template – Pupil/Student Statements PAGEREF _Toc141779713 \h 36 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc141779714" Acknowledgements and Thanks PAGEREF _Toc141779714 \h 39 Using the AUP Templates: Guidance Notes Education leaders should ensure their policies and procedures are in line with statutory requirements. ‘ HYPERLINK "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2" Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) states that schools and colleges should have a ‘staff behaviour policy (sometimes called the code of conduct) which should, amongst other things, include acceptable use of technologies, staff/pupil relationships and communications including the use of social media’. This document will support educational settings in creating Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) which are relevant to their communities and reflects the needs and abilities of children/pupils/students and technology available. Key Points AUPs should be recognised by educational settings as part of the portfolio of safeguarding policies and as part of the code of conduct and/or behaviour policies. AUPs are not technical policies and as such oversight and development will fall within the role and responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and overall approval from SLT, including governing boards/trusts etc. The DSL is likely to require advice and support from other staff within the setting to ensure the AUP is robust and accurate, for example IT providers/staff, therefore leaders should ensure that time is allocated to ensure this takes place. Where possible and appropriate, children/pupils/students, staff and parents/carers should be directly involved in the creation and updating of AUPs. AUPs should be reviewed on an at least annual basis and updated following any substantial policy or technology changes locally or nationally; this will be especially important following changes to technology use made. Leaders should consider how they evidence that all members of the community have read and understood these p

FAQs

What is the purpose of an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in educational settings?

AUPs support safeguarding by setting clear expectations for using technologies and complement the setting’s code of conduct and behaviour policies. They also help clarify roles and responsibilities in areas such as filtering and monitoring.

Who is responsible for ensuring an AUP is robust, accurate, and approved?

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) typically oversees advice and development, with overall approval from SLT and relevant governance bodies. The DSL may also seek input from other staff such as IT providers or staff.

How should educational settings handle review, updates, and evidence of understanding?

AUPs should be reviewed at least annually and updated after substantial local or national technology and policy changes. Leaders should also evidence that members of the community have read and understood the policies, for example by keeping signed agreements and publishing AUPs on the website and intranet.

Sep 2, 2026

Upload by Emma Mercer