What are Alerts?
Alerts automatically notify relevant staff members when incidents are created that match criteria you define. This ensures key safeguarding personnel are immediately aware of important concerns.How Alerts Work
Configure Alert Rules
Create rules that define which incidents should trigger alerts based on criteria like category, student group, location, or specific students.
Incident is Created
When a staff member creates an incident, Signal checks it against all active alert rules.
Matching Rules Trigger Alerts
If the incident matches a rule’s criteria, alerts are generated for the configured recipients.
Recipients Are Notified
Alerted users receive email notifications and can view alerts in Signal. If a user has a working schedule configured and the alert occurs outside their working hours, the email is delayed until their next working period.
Rule Criteria
Alert rules can match incidents based on:| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Category | Specific incident categories (e.g., self-harm, bullying) |
| Student | Specific students you want to monitor |
| Student Group | Groups of students (e.g., Looked After Children, SEN students) |
| Location | Where the incident occurred |
| Academic Year | Year groups (e.g., Year 7, Year 11) |
| Form/Class | Specific class groups |
| SEN Status | Students with SEN status |
| Pupil Premium | Pupil Premium students |
Rules use “OR” logic within each criteria type and “AND” logic across different types. For example, a rule for “Category: Self-Harm OR Bullying” AND “Student Group: Vulnerable Students” will match incidents that have either category AND are for students in that group.
Who Receives Alerts?
When configuring a rule, you can specify who should be alerted:- Specific users: Choose individual staff members
- User groups: Alert everyone in a user group
- All users with access: Alert everyone who can view the student
Managing Alerts
Viewing Alerts
Navigate to Alerts in the main menu to see all alerts. You can:- Filter by read/unread status
- View the related incident details
- See which rule triggered the alert
Marking Alerts as Read
After reviewing an alert and its related incident:- Click on the alert to view details
- Click Mark as Read to acknowledge you’ve reviewed it
Who Can Use Alerts?
View Permissions by Role
View Permissions by Role
| Role | View Alerts | Create/Edit Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Alerts for accessible students | ✓ |
| Admin | Alerts for accessible students | ✓ |
| DSL | Alerts for accessible students | ✓ |
| Deputy DSL | Alerts for accessible students | ✓ |
| Viewer | Alerts for accessible students | ✗ |
Alert visibility respects student access permissions. You only see alerts for students you have permission to view.
Getting Started
Configure Alert Rules
Learn how to create alert rules for your school’s needs
Working Schedules
Control when staff receive alert notifications
Best Practices
Tips for effective alert configuration
Troubleshooting
I'm not receiving alert notifications
I'm not receiving alert notifications
- Check that you’re included in the rule’s recipients (specific users or user groups)
- Verify the rule is enabled
- Check your email spam folder
- Confirm you have access to the students who would trigger alerts
Too many alerts are being triggered
Too many alerts are being triggered
Review your alert rules and consider:
- Making criteria more specific (combine multiple criteria)
- Removing broad rules that alert on common categories
- Using student groups to focus on vulnerable students
An alert triggered unexpectedly
An alert triggered unexpectedly
- Review the alert rule’s criteria
- Check the incident that triggered it
- Verify the criteria logic (OR within type, AND across types)
- Adjust the rule if needed