Since 5th September 2016, Ofsted has required schools to not only show that they have strategies in place to carry out robust filtering and monitoring to protect students using school technology, but to demonstrate a full understanding of them.
Filtering means blocking access to selected websites or preventing certain applications from being used on the school network. It’s a structured, well thought out strategy to allow pupils access to age-appropriate, informative and education-related websites and web pages for learning, whilst blocking the inappropriate ones from view. Monitoring complements this by giving school staff a means of observing how students use school technology – and alerting them to any activity of concern.
NetSupport DNA has been designed to help schools carry out their filtering and monitoring duties according to Ofsted best practice. Its Safeguarding module contains internet metering tools to allow schools to set up lists of allowed and restricted websites, while neurolinguistics technology alerts staff to students’ use of keywords or phrases covering the spectrum of safeguarding topics.