Kent Position Statement regarding Sparklebox

This blog was originally posted in 2010.

Following enquiries from schools and settings regarding the use of the resource website Sparklebox.co.uk, the Kent Safeguarding Children Board (KSCB) e-Safety subgroup would like to make the following statement.

In January 2010 a former teacher, Mr Samuel Kinge was convicted and jailed in relation to possession and creation of indecent images of children for a second time. Mr Kinge has been associated with Sparklebox.co.uk, a children's learning materials website about which there have been concerns. Mr Kinge has now been released subject to Police restrictions and is now back running the site. There is however a view that his involvement with any service provider bidding in any regulated competitive procurement of relevant learning materials would make it proper for that provider to be excluded from such a procurement due to his conviction.

Having considered and evaluated these matters carefully and weighed up how best children might be protected, the KSCB e-Safety subgroup is of the opinion that it should continue to block the Sparklebox.co.uk website. The KSCB e-Safety subgroup will continue to keep this matter under review and recommends that any school thinking about having access to relevant materials should first carefully address and manage any child safeguarding risk as well as any moral concerns or questions. Any schools or establishments wishing to discuss this issue further should contact the Education Safeguarding Adviser (Online Protection).

KSCB e-Safety Subgroup

Text adapted from statement by SWGfL http://www.swgfl.org.uk/Staying-Safe/Content/News-Articles/Sparklebox