Digital Monitoring and Web Filtering
All You Need to Know...

Leaders, DSLs, Governors

Equip yourselves with the essential aspects of digital monitoring and web filtering.

Do you have questions? Just Ask! We're here to support you, guide you, and deepen your understanding of digital monitoring and web filtering.

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Ruth Noble, DSL at Tonacliffe Primary School talks about digital monitoring and web filtering technology in UK education.

In this short video, Ruth explains the differences between web filtering and digital monitoring technology, their importance in safeguarding students and why both are needed in education settings.

 

Get up to speed with
digital monitoring and web filtering

Our experts have selected the resources below to help enhance your understanding and learning about digital monitoring and web filtering.

Whether you are new to these topics or already have some knowledge, our whitepapers and videos will provide you with all the information you need.

We'll explain how digital monitoring and web filtering can enhance student digital safety and ensure KCSIE compliance.

Pick the topic you'd like to learn more about, or Just Ask

 

Choose an option below

Whitepapers

A-Complete-Digital-Monitoring-for-Schools1
A Complete Guide to Digital Monitoring for Schools
Key takeaways include:

What digital monitoring is and how it works
How it can help your school meet
statutory guidelines
How it benefits safeguarders and helps you meet KCSIE obligations

Bridging-the-Language-Gap-3-1
Bridging the
Language Gap
Key takeaways include:

What web filtering and digital monitoring are and how they work
The key web filtering and digital monitoring terms unpicked
Reviewing your school's filtering/monitoring approach
Setting-the-new-standard-guide1
Setting the New Standard
for Digital Monitoring
Key takeaways include:

Understanding the pressing need for digital monitoring in schools
The 8 key standards for digital monitoring excellence
How Smoothwall can help you meet these standards
Download

Video

Digital monitoring in 90 seconds

In just 90 seconds, Katherine Howard provides a brief overview of digital monitoring and its functionality.

Discover how the technology can help capture potential student risks on school devices.

Understand its crucial role in safeguarding children and how it empowers DSLs, equipping them with vital information to both intervene early and fulfil their obligations under KCSIE.



 

Common misconceptions about digital monitoring

Digital monitoring can be a fairly unfamiliar topic for many safeguarders, leading to misunderstandings about how the technology works to keep students safe.

In this video, Katherine Howard clears up some of the common misconceptions and provides clarity on what digital monitoring really means for safeguarding young people in UK education.

 

Whitepapers

Cloud-On-premise-or-hybrid-web-filtering-guide1
Web Filtering for UK Education - Cloud, On-premise or Hybrid?

Key takeaways include:

A brief overview of web filtering in UK education

The different filtering deployment options available to schools
What you need to do to meet your KCSIE web filtering obligations

Download
Bridging-the-Language-Gap-3-1
Bridging the
Language Gap

Key takeaways include:

What web filtering and digital monitoring are and how they work

The key web filtering and digital monitoring terms unpicked

Reviewing your filtering/monitoring


Download
A-Simple-Guide-to-WF-and-DM-2024
A Simple Guide to Web Filtering and Digital Monitoring

Key takeaways include:

Key differences between web filtering
and digital monitoring

Why both of these solutions are vital
to protecting your student

How these safeguarding solutions can effectively protect your students and staff


Download

Video

Web filtering in 2 minutes

Get a concise overview of web filtering in just 2 minutes from our filtering expert, Tom Newton. 

Understand the distinction between cloud and on-premise filtering commonly used across UK schools and colleges. 

Gain insight into the various levels of filtering commonly used to safeguard students online and why real-time content filtering should be considered in today's learning environment.
 

 

 

Have a question? Just Ask.

We’ve created a safe space for you to submit your digital monitoring and web filtering questions directly to us.
Our experts will then respond with an answer. Ask anything, no question is too trivial.

'Just Ask' events

Join our webinars and learn even more about digital monitoring and web filtering
as well as further understand your statutory obligations around these areas. Plus ask any questions you have.

8-Essential-Components-to-Digital-Monitoring-Webinar

Live Webinar for DSLs

The 8 Essential Components of Effective Digital Monitoring for DSLs

Thursday, 26th September @ 3pm - 4pm

Join our free live webinar, where experts Katherine Howard and Jack Smith will delve into the 8 essential components of digital monitoring that every school, college, and MAT should prioritise.

Register now
Digital-Monitoring-and-Wbe-filtering-webinar

Exclusive Customer Webinar

Mastering Digital Safeguarding: The Critical Roles of Web Filtering and Digital Monitoring

Thursday, 10th October @ 11am - 12pm

Join Katherine Howard and Tom Newton, where they'll explain the key differences between web filtering and digital monitoring and show you how they can best serve you to support your safeguarding efforts. 

This webinar is exclusive to Smoothwall customers. Please contact your account manager or email enquiries@smoothwall.com if interested in attending.
KCSIE-Webinar-2-4

Recorded Webinar

KCSIE 2023 Updates: Web filtering & monitoring for DSLs explained


Catch-up on last year's KCSIE update webinar with Smoothwall experts Katherine Howard and Tom Newton, as a discuss the key distinctions between web filtering and monitoring, and what you need to be aware of to meet your obligations.

Watch on-demand

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover some of the questions other DSLs and safeguarders have asked us about
digital monitoring and web filtering, with answers given by our experts. 

Web filtering and digital monitoring - what's the difference? 

Web filtering and monitoring work hand in hand when it comes to protecting pupils online.

Where web filtering is designed to block pupils from being able to access and view inappropriate content on the internet, digital monitoring analyses screen views and any keystrokes the child makes into a device to search for any risks.

Whether a user types into a browser, Microsoft document, or a social media platform, digital monitoring will capture the word/s even if they are immediately deleted, or never submitted or sent.

 

Can web filtering be adjusted for roles and age groups?

Modern web filters, such as Smoothwall Filter include granular controls that allow web filtering to be relaxed or made stricter based on your institute's needs.

In most cases, you'll find that web filtering rules can be set up to take into consideration, year groups or discern between staff and student users.

Is there standardised training to help staff oversee monitoring and filtering systems?

There are no standardised training programs or resources in place that DSLs need in order to understand digital monitoring or web filtering.

However, vendor such as Smoothwall can provide formal training and educational resources to help DSLs better understand their new responsibilities.

How do you prevent your web filter from overblocking?

Schools require content filtering that contextually analyses a web page to determine whether or not it should be blocked to the user.

Web filters that rely solely the URL or domain block lists tend to overclock as they are likely to overly restrict student access and/or leave students exposed to new harmful content that might go live.

Does digital monitoring generate alerts for specific websites, especially those not currently blocked?

Digital monitoring, unlike web filtering, does not generate alerts based on what sites students visit. It generates captures when a student types in something that could indicate a risk.

This leads to risks being discovered on sites that filters may on their own fail to pick up on.

Is digital monitoring only necessary for older pupils?

No. Digital safety is not just something that concerns older students.

Younger children remain just as exposed to risks online. Bad things can happen in good places. It's up to schools to effectively put in place "appropriate monitoring" to mitigate where risks do arise. 

Fill in the form below to receive your
FREE web filtering and monitoring assessment

Is your filtering and/or monitoring up to the task? Get a free, objective assessment.

Want to know the type of filtering and/or monitoring used in your setting and whether it's robust enough to meet today's challenges?

Book a free, objective assessment call with a Smoothwall expert.

We'll run through a few questions and tell you:

  • If there are gaps in your current provision as well as what and where they are
  • What kind of filtering you have, together with any pros and cons
  • What kind of monitoring you have, together with any pros and cons
  • If appropriate, how Smoothwall Filter and Monitor can help you improve student digital safety.

Fill in the form and we'll get right back to you.

Discover Smoothwall
digital monitoring and web filtering

Smoothwall Monitor
Smoothwall Monitor

Real-time, human-moderated monitoring that alerts designated staff to students suspected of becoming vulnerable.

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Smoothwall Filter
Smoothwall Filter

Unparalleled, 100% real-time filtering, designed from the ground up for UK education. Trusted by 1 in 3 schools.

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