Online Safety
At Cottam Primary School, pupils have access to a wide range of carefully selected online resources that enrich and extend their learning across the curriculum. Technology provides exciting opportunities to inspire curiosity, encourage creativity, and support children in developing the skills they need for the future. Pupils are always given clear guidance and learning objectives when using the internet, and all online activity is supervised by staff, who take every reasonable precaution to ensure children only access age-appropriate and educational content.
We are committed to helping our pupils become safe, respectful, and responsible digital citizens. Children are taught how to use technology thoughtfully and safely, including the importance of protecting personal information, communicating kindly online, and recognising situations that may cause concern. Pupils are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult whenever they feel worried or unsure about something they encounter online, and they are supported in understanding where to go for help and advice.
At Cottam Primary School, we recognise that keeping children safe online is most effective when schools and families work together. We value the important role parents and carers play in supporting children to develop healthy and safe online habits at home as well as at school. By maintaining open communication and working in partnership, we can help pupils build the confidence, awareness, and resilience needed to enjoy technology safely and positively.
Filtering and Monitoring at Cottam Primary School
The school uses a filtering system called Netsweeper which is provided via Lancashire County Council. This runs on all devices in school to ensure pupils can only access age-appropriate content online. This works differently dependant on the device:
Windows based devices
All Microsoft Windows based devices run the ‘Netsweeper WAgent’ detection software. This detects which user is currently logged in and applies the correct filtering level of content based on which group the user has been assigned. For example, when a staff member logs in to a device, they receive a slightly less restrictive profile (while still blocking unsafe content). A pupil who logs in to the same device however will have the highest level of filtering applied. This means the same device can safely be used by both staff and pupils, with filtering automatically adjusting based on the user.
iPads
As iPads are shared devices and not usually ‘signed in to’ by a user, we have a different method of tracking online content. For these we utilise a ‘captive portal’. When a user opens a web browser on an iPad, they are prompted to enter their Microsoft Windows username and password. Once authenticated, the correct filtering profile is applied (just like on a Windows device). This login lasts for around 45-60 minutes before requiring the user to re-enter their credentials. This is due to the nature of iPads being easily shareable, so enforcing re-authentication is a good way to ensure the current user can still be filtered effectively.
OnGuard and Reporting
In addition to web filtering, the school also uses Netsweeper OnGuard for safeguarding monitoring. This monitors activity across all applications on school devices rather than just web browsing. If certain high-risk words or phrases are typed (for example in a web-search, email, or document etc), all designated safeguarding staff are alerted immediately. These alerts provide information of the device, user and a screenshot of what the user was viewing at the time. At this juncture, safeguarding staff can make a decision on the intent of the alert and address it accordingly. The monitoring logs this data even if the device is offline, with information syncing once it reconnects. The policies also remain active if devices are used off-site.
Netsweeper provides weekly filtering reports which are sent to safeguarding leads for review. The filtering system is routinely checked against national safeguarding standards (including SWGfL guidance) to ensure it meets current UK online safety requirements for schools. In totality, the school provides a very robust and thorough filtering solution to ensure the safety of the pupils when using technology in school.