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Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges

Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges

Over the Easter break the DfE introduced new filtering and monitoring standards, Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges, and are encouraging schools to use them to review their current systems and when necessary reinforce their current systems.

Key areas of the guidance: 

  • Importance of and how to meet the standard
  • Annual review of systems as a minimum or when a safeguarding risk is identified, a change in working practice or introduction of new technology
  • Review should be conducted by members of SLT, DSL, the IT service provider and involve the responsible governor
  • Checks should be undertaken from both a safeguarding and IT perspective
  • Review of blocklists should be modified in line with changes to safeguarding risks
  • Recording logs of checks e.g. When the checks took place / Who did the checks / What they tested/checked / Resulting actions
  • Effective monitoring strategies that meet the safeguarding needs of YOUR school. The DSL should take lead responsibility for any safeguarding and child protection matters that are picked up through monitoring:
    • Incidents should be urgently picked up, acted on and outcomes are recorded
    • It should be clear to all staff how to deal with these incidents and who should lead on any actions
    • Training should be provided to make sure their knowledge is current

  • Check you are meeting the Cyber security standards
  • Monitoring procedures need to be reflected in your Acceptable Use Policy, integrated into relevant online safety, safeguarding and organisational policies, such as privacy notices.

 

See full guidance here.


Things you need to consider

  • Is the knowledge of your key stakeholders up to date? 
  • Are your policies up to date?

Please contact us if you need any support in making sure your key safeguarding stakeholders are up to date with knowledge and training, and if you need support with policy development and updates.
 
Call 01274 752299 or email admin@safeguardingsupport.com.
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Rachel Priestley

Rach has a background in Business Development and Administration, gaining much of her knowledge and experience through her 19 year career with the NHS working within the executive office, community services and public health. 

Before moving on from the NHS, Rach supported the Chief Executive, the Chairman and the Trust Board of a local NHS Care Trust, which managed Children’s Services. Her responsibilities spanned across HR, Finance, Governance, Compliance, Risk, systems and processes, and internal training. Rach also supported the Children’s Safeguarding Lead with safeguarding investigations.

In 2017, she left the NHS to pursue a successful self-employed career supporting business to grow, with flexible business development and administration support, which she continues to do on a part-time basis.

Rach is in house trained, and is passionate about delivering outstanding services and enjoys working as part of the safeguarding team to achieve a common goal.

In her own time, she loves spending time outside, and long walks with the two family dogs. 

Shelley Armstrong

Shelley joined Safeguarding Support in 2020 as an experienced AET-qualified freelance trainer, and now enjoys working across the business, keeping clients as up to date as possible with the ever changing challenges facing safeguarding children in education.

Whilst we aim to simplify safeguarding, Shelley’s passion is to ensure engagement, pride and confidence through training and support. Shelley enjoys applying the competencies gained in different industries and environments to researching, designing, and developing materials for those with the responsibility to safeguard children, and in return has enormous respect for their commitment.

Her experience across the private business sector brings commercial skills to training and her background in psychology and counselling ensure courses are designed and delivered with the learner in mind.

Shelley lives in Yorkshire and enjoys walking her springer spaniels – come rain or shine!

Abigail Havon

Abigail is an experienced AET qualified trainer who began her safeguarding career in the charity sector.  There she was a regional manager and part of the safeguarding leadership team.  She was involved in writing policies and procedures, developing, and delivering training and supporting staff and volunteers to work 121 with children struggling with their literacy. 

She has worked in a variety of business environments gaining experience in different sectors. She has always chosen roles that call for collaboration and communication to bring the best out in people and projects to completion.  Abigail passionately believes that empowering educators to work together as part of a safeguarding team will lead to better outcomes for children and young people. 

As part of the SSL training team her role focuses mainly on delivering virtual training. 

Abigail lives near the Jurassic Coast and enjoys long walks and caring for her jungle of houseplants.  

Carol Stephenson

Carol has spent her entire career teaching in Bradford primary schools. Most recently she was Head Teacher of a large, outstanding, multi-academy trust, inner-city
school where she gained Local Leaders of Education (LLE) status.

Carol is a highly experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding Governor, with an extensive range of expertise, skills and knowledge. It was through this depth of experience that she became a dedicated representative of Bradford Children’s Safeguarding Board. In June 2019, Carol was awarded a Bradford Safeguarding Champions lifetime achievement award 2019 for her continued work in safeguarding the children of Bradford.

Carol is in-house trained and is NSPCC certified to deliver Child Protection and Safeguarding training.

In her spare time, Carol enjoys working on her allotment.