Filtering and Monitoring at Wrockwardine Wood CE Junior School

At Wrockwardine Wood CE Junior School, keeping children safe online is a key part of our safeguarding responsibilities. We use a combination of filtering and monitoring systems to help protect pupils when they are using the internet and digital devices in school. These arrangements are reviewed regularly by school leaders, governors, safeguarding staff and our ICT support team to ensure they remain effective and appropriate for our pupils.

 

What is Filtering?

Filtering is the system that prevents access to harmful, inappropriate or unsafe online content.

Our school uses Lightspeed Systems, which:

• Blocks inappropriate websites and content.
• Prevents access to harmful material such as adult content, gambling, violence, extremism, malware and phishing sites.
• Applies age-appropriate restrictions for children.
• Enforces safe searching across search engines.
• Helps protect pupils both in school and, where applicable, on school-managed devices used elsewhere. 

Think of filtering as a safety gate that helps stop unsuitable content from being reached.

What is Monitoring?

Monitoring helps us understand how school devices are being used and alerts us to potential safeguarding concerns.

Our school uses Senso, which:

• Monitors activity on school devices.
• Alerts safeguarding staff to concerns such as bullying, harmful searches, inappropriate language or online risks.
• Supports staff in identifying pupils who may need additional help or support.
• Provides information that helps us respond quickly to safeguarding concerns. 

Think of monitoring as an early warning system that helps us identify and respond to concerns before they become serious problems.

How Do They Work Together?

Filtering and monitoring work hand in hand:

• Filtering helps prevent children from accessing harmful content.
• Monitoring helps identify and respond to concerns if risky behaviour or safeguarding issues arise.
• Together they create a safer online environment for pupils, staff and the wider school community. 

What Parents Can Do at Home

Parents play a vital role in helping children stay safe online. We encourage families to:

✅ Talk regularly about online safety and responsible internet use.

✅ Keep devices in shared family spaces where possible.

✅ Use parental controls and safe-search settings on home devices and broadband services.

✅ Know which apps, games and websites your child is using.

✅ Encourage children to tell a trusted adult if they see anything that worries or upsets them online.

✅ Remind children never to share personal information such as their address, phone number, passwords or school details.

✅ Discuss how to behave respectfully online and how to report concerns.

✅ Set sensible screen-time routines and ensure devices are not used unsupervised late at night.

Working Together

Keeping children safe online is a partnership between school and home. By combining our robust filtering and monitoring systems with positive conversations and supervision at home, we can help children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

If you have any questions about online safety, filtering or monitoring at our school, please contact the school office or speak to a member of the safeguarding team.