In Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, web filtering has firmly transitioned from an IT function into a core safeguarding obligation. This is critical because filtering systems are in place to protect children from real harm, and therefore there must be clarity and evidence that this is the case. Sadly, as shown in the case of Frankie Thomas, a failure to check that filtering is working as DSLs would expect can have the most tragic outcomes.
As DSLs, filtering and monitoring can feel alien as our expertise is often not in the technical space, but we don’t need to be 'techxperts'. Our expertise remains in how to protect children from and prevent harm, and filtering checks are just one component of this.
KCSIE establishes a requirement for schools to perform regular filtering checks across all internet-connected devices and locations, and to maintain an explicit written record of these checks.
As a DSL, it is important to remember that checks are operational and routine, typically conducted monthly or half-termly (DfE state ‘regular checks’), distinguishing them from the strategic annual review. While you hold overall accountability for the process, you can delegate the physical testing to your IT support team, provided the results are logged and reviewed by leadership.
How do I complete a filtering check?
To maintain compliance, you can utilise the free LGfL Web Filtering Checks templates (Word and Excel versions) to structure your filtering checks. Please do not complete a filtering check by trying to navigate to inappropriate webpages! Instead, the following are suggested areas to explore:
- Active Protection: Confirm that filtering is fully functional on the device and that the correct age-related policy seamlessly maps to the user account. For LGfL customers, a visit to amifiltering.co.uk will show this. For non-LGfL schools, agree with your IT team how to test that content is blocked as expected - we do not recommend trying to navigate to any adult content sites as a way of testing your filtering!
- Protection Everywhere: Make sure you test a variety of devices from different areas of your site, different device types (iPads, laptops, phones, etc.) belonging to different users and especially those that go off-site, as it is critical that these have effective filtering in place.
- Illegal Content Blocking: You must verify that the filter blocks access to illegal material, such as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and unlawful terrorist content. Test this safely using the UK Safer Internet Centre's tool at testfiltering.com, or LGfL schools can use amifiltering.co.uk. These lists must be enforced with no route to disable them in schools. For LGfL customers, these lists are blocked and cannot be edited by anyone.
- Safe Search Enforcement: SafeSearch is an automated feature on major search engines like Google and Bing that filters out explicit, offensive, or inappropriate content from your search results. Verify that SafeSearch is turned on and strictly enforced across all active search engines so that users cannot toggle it off. You can check Google’s status instantly by visiting safesearchcheck.lgfl.net on a school device. For LGfL customers, please ensure the ‘Search Engines- Other’ category is blocked for pupils, as these sites do not have a SafeSearch function.
- YouTube Restrictions: Ensure YouTube is operating in an appropriate restricted mode. Test your active configuration by navigating directly to youtubemode.lgfl.net. For more advice about YouTube, please visit youtube.lgfl.net.
- Feedback and Overblocking: Review whether recently blocked or allowed pages are functioning as intended and gather feedback from staff to ensure filtering isn’t causing unreasonable restrictions on teaching.
You don’t need to check all devices each time; a proportionate sample is reasonable so that over the course of the year, you are checking most devices.
Always ensure that the date, the specific device IDs, the testing technician, and any necessary remedial actions are formally logged. If a check highlights an issue, move it immediately to an action plan with a clear deadline and SLT sign-off.
LGfL Support
Take a look at the DfE Filtering and Monitoring Standards for more advice on filtering checks.
For more support on anything to do with filtering and your responsibilities as a DSL, please visit safefiltering.lgfl.net. Or if you have any particular queries, please email: safeguarding@lgfl.net
