Ofsted, through its ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ Guidance, says schools should as a minimum have ‘appropriate’ filtering and monitoring and some form of record keeping. With no minimum standard specified however, some MATs have been able to tick the compliance box with the barest of provision.

This compliance-first, rather than child-first approach might have been more budget-friendly and kept Ofsted happy, but it could never give pupils anything like the protection they need – especially now. With all risks heightened and children needing their MAT to care for them like never before, this is not the time to compromise.

Whatever standard your MAT is currently at, it’s time to reassess your practices, route out any weaknesses and ensure your digital safety is robust enough to properly protect the wellbeing and safety of your students in this changed landscape.

What next?

Get help to assess your current provision. Download our latest document ‘#5 Key Ways to Improve Your Digital Safeguarding during Covid-19 – A Guide for Multi-Academy Trusts‘ below. Or why not book a no-obligation walk-through of any of our digital safeguarding solutions. Click below to select a date and time of your choosing. Feel free to invite any colleagues along too.

https://www.smoothwall.com/education/contact-us/demonstration/