Embc management have taken action to block the website “Sparklebox” across all standard filter levels to safeguard both embc users and the security of the embc network. This action is in line with 4 other RBCs and a growing number of local authorities. It has been taken on the basis of an assessment of the available technical, security and legal information concerning this site and how the site is managed. CEOP have issued a statement, copied below, that has informed this assessment and the advice detailed below.
Following queries into the website sparklebox.co.uk over the past couple of months, CEOP have investigated the website and its management. It should be noted that Sparklebox’s primary aim is to provide resources for schools (in particular teachers) but that there are opportunities for pictures of young people to be sent in and be published online and that until recently there was a live blog. Sparklebox state that all staff have been through relevant checks however CEOP can support the recent SWGfL statement released this week, an extract of which is below:
“It is understood that a person who is on the record as an owner and director of Sparklebox Teacher Resources Limited (which appears to claim ownership of the SparkleBox web site and children’s learning materials) is a registered sex offender who has recently admitted a second offence, is on remand in prison and is awaiting sentence in January.”
CEOP are also aware that a number of RBC’s and Local Authorities have blocked sparklebox.co.uk until they are satisfied that suitable safeguarding arrangements are in place. CEOP supports this stance and would recommend that any schools who choose to overrule their central filtering lists give due consideration to a website specific school risk analysis and risk management plan.
We are aware that Sparklebox is a popular site with some teachers but there are several reasons why embc has elected to add this site to its global deny list:
· The site signposts users to an un-trusted social networking site
· The site offers the download of a toolbox, with unknown ‘payload’ – for example the download could initiate an internal attack on school systems immediately, or at some unknown future time.
· The site presents an unacceptable security threat to the embc network and connected schools.
· The site is operating illegally in that the company operating the site has no registration with the Data Protection Registrar
The advice we have received confirms this judgement, and that of a number of other regional grids, that these reasons are sufficient to justify general blocking. Schools may, with caution, and at their own discretion adjust their local policy to enable access. However, it is not possible, under any circumstances, to configure a local ‘allow’ for sites which are on the banned list of mainly illegal sites compiled and circulated to internet service providers by The Internet Watch Foundation.
Suggested alternative resources can be found at:
http://www.tes.co.uk/resourcehub.aspx
http://www.nen.gov.uk/
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/geography/contents.htm
http://www.channel4learning.com/index.html
They operate differently but all provide the same kind of service with a range of resource types.
embc do not endorse these products or the service providers, they are offered as ideas for teachers to review and make their own judgment about their usefulness and application.
Your LA website, intranet and learning platform, where they are provided, may provide alternate options for you to consider as well as those proposed here.