17 October 2016
By Rebecca Avery
EIS Checklist response now available on the Safer Internet Centre Filtering Integrator list
In May 2016 (to be enacted from 5th September 2016) the Department for Education published the revised statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) for schools and colleges in England. KCSIE identified a number of key issues for schools and colleges to be aware of regarding online safety. The updated guidance identifies that schools are required to “ensure appropriate filters and appropriate monitoring systems are in place. Children should not be able to access harmful or inappropriate material from the school or colleges IT system” however, schools also need to “be careful that “overblocking” does not lead to unreasonable restrictions as to what children can be taught with regards to online teaching and safeguarding.” Schools (and registered childcare providers) in England and Wales are also required under the Prevent Duty 2015 “to ensure children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in school, including by establishing appropriate levels of filtering". The UK Safer Internet Centre has published two documents to help schools understand what may be considered as ‘appropriate’ filtering and monitoring.
- Appropriate Filtering - Guide for education settings and filtering providers about establishing 'appropriate levels of filtering'
- Appropriate Monitoring - Guide for education settings and filtering providers about establishing 'appropriate levels of monitoring'
