'Sparklebox' probe to assess risks to children

The revelation that the person who ran Sparklebox had been prosecuted twice for child porn offences sent shockwaves across Northern Ireland when it emerged that the site was not barred here until a parent in Belfast complained.

Samuel Kinge (28), from Worcestershire, was jailed a second time last month for downloading abusive images. His Sparklebox - which has been used in thousands of UK schools - was managed in Northern Ireland by C2k, under the auspices of the WELB.

The Minister of Education, Caitriona Ruane said her department has written to the chief executive of the WELB, Barry Mulholland to instruct him "to investigate the manner in which the Sparklebox situation was handled and to make recommendations on what lessons can be learned from that..."

He has been asked for a report by 24 March 2010.

Ms Ruane said: "In my statement to the Assembly on 8 February I announced that, as part of my response to the discovery that the owner of Sparklebox, a website available to schools through C2k, had been jailed in England for paedophile offences, my Department would issue follow-up guidance to the 2007 Circular.

"This new guidance will specifically allude to safeguarding arrangements in light of the Sparklebox experience. My Department is also fully engaged with the Inter-Departmental Group on Safeguarding. This group is progressing work on an action plan which will set in place measures to enhance even further e-safety for young people.

"Internet safety is also taught through the revised curriculum, now in place for all pupils here. Teachers have received support and guidance on integrating teaching about internet safety and online communication generally. This contributes to the area of Personal Development and Mutual Understanding, which looks at developing a proactive and responsible approach by pupils to safety, including the internet.

"Barry Mulholland, Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board, of which C2k is a directorate, will conduct the investigation into C2k's handling of the case."

The terms of reference of his investigation are:

To establish and explain the actions of C2k from the time it became aware of the trial of the owner of Sparklebox to the point at which it removed access to Sparklebox from the system;

To report on the protocols, procedures and processes used by C2k in respect of child protection issues relating to schools' use of the C2k system and to assess whether they were appropriate and effective. In particular to give an assessment of whether C2k’s responses were proportionate and timely;

To report on C2k’s reporting procedures to the Department around child protection issues;

To determine if the Sparklebox website contained any content or interactive elements that would have been harmful to children? If so, to explain what action was taken regarding these elements?;

To determine how many schools in the north of Ireland used the Sparklebox website;

To determine how this matter can be brought to the attention of service providers and users;

To make recommendations on what lessons can be learned from this case in terms of enhancing further policies and procedures for protecting the safety of children. The recommendations should identify cross-cutting issues which affect other departments in the north of Ireland, as well as any north/south and British/Irish issues.

The Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education will oversee an examination of the Department’s internal procedures and protocols.