The Importance of Filtering and Monitoring in Schools

Children and young people use the internet to socialise, learn, and communicate. For many children, especially those with vulnerabilities, the online world offers an escape from day-to-day challenges, putting them at a higher risk of harm.

Understanding the risks

A report by Internet Matters highlights these concerns:

• Teens who are Care-experienced report high levels of Conduct risks, but at the same time, were subjects of intense Cyberaggression themselves.

• Teens with communication challenges are twice as likely to be sharing nudes compared to their peers. These children are also subjected to more cyber scams, including social media accounts being hacked, buying fake goods, and credit card details being stolen.

Statutory Guidance

Everyone working in a school understands the risks of the online world. Traditionally, IT support staff managed filtering and monitoring, but now, the Department for Education (DfE) has a set of standards to emphasise a more strategic approach to online safety within schools' safeguarding frameworks.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

The 2023 update of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) required the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety. Schools must have appropriate filtering and monitoring systems, regularly review their effectiveness, and ensure the leadership team is well-versed in these provisions.

What is Filtering and Monitoring?

The internet is full of harmful material unsuitable for children. Schools should create an environment where access to this content is limited. Filtering and monitoring systems will help with this.

Online filtering

Filtering restricts or controls the internet content users can access. It blocks harmful sites and allows access to appropriate content, often called content control or web filtering. This can include:

• URL filtering that blocks a specific website address.
• Preventing keyword/phrases or category-based filtering to help shield children from harmful material such as adult content, violence, drugs and hate speech.

What filtering systems are put in place should be tailored to the setting, for example, primary or secondary school and informed by your local risk profile.

Online monitoring

Monitoring goes beyond blocking to track user activity. This includes searching and accessing data on the internet and monitoring terminology used in software like Microsoft Word. Monitoring software runs in the background, looking for pre-set words, phrases, and images and generating alerts and reports for action.

Monitoring Strategies

There are several different ways monitoring can be achieved.

These include:

• Physical monitoring strategies
  • This involves physical supervision of children whilst using devices and the internet. This may be suitable for smaller settings that have a lower risk.
    

• Internet and web logs
  • Internet service providers can provide log file profiles. This requires a member of staff to monitor and identify what is being accessed online and may be suitable for a smaller settings.
  • Schools may use a combination of these strategies, depending on their specific needs. Those with technical monitoring systems must conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments and review third-party privacy notices.
    
    

• Technical monitoring systems
  •  Online content is monitored and flagged, and violations reported directly to the school.

  • Device management.

Governing bodies, SLT, DSL’s and IT staff must all understand their role and receive the right training to help them fulfil it. In some instances, seeking system-specific training and support from filtering or monitoring providers may be necessary.

All staff should receive appropriate training to understand their roles and follow established policies and procedures.

How Tes Safeguarding training can help

Discover essential insights into filtering and monitoring in schools with our new course, developed in partnership with SWGfL, a charity that ensures children benefit from technology free from harm. The course explores the critical importance, roles, and responsibilities of filtering and monitoring, aligning with the DfE's standards. Learn how school leaders can effectively assess risks and make informed decisions. Upon completion, you'll earn 2 CPD credits and receive a personalised downloadable certificate.

Get all the safeguarding training you need

This course is also included in our Tes Safeguarding online training package, which offers your entire school community unlimited access to over 80 expert-written courses covering safeguarding, compliance, health and safety, and wellbeing, all for one annual price.

Download our course brochure to see the full list of courses or request a free trial to see why we're voted #1 safeguarding software on EdTech Impact.