Newsletter
Welcome to the spring 2011 newsletter
In our last Newsletter we talked about the uncertainty that schools faced and how that made planning extra difficult. Many schools are still awaiting confirmation of their budgets for the coming year, and also clarification over whether the Pupil Premium really is extra funding to help schools address the attainment gap and disadvantaged pupils.
Despite this we have never been busier supporting schools who are keen to make the most the benefits of technology, achieve 1:1 provision of devices within an e-learning programme, take advantage of some of the very low prices that leading suppliers are offering to schools, engage with their parents to help financially underpin the investment needed and in some cases make the most of leasing with big capital budget cuts round the corner.
We will launch the next grants round at the end of March and you need to make sure your affiliation is up to date in order to apply We have been working hard to get your families some good deals for their mobile Internet service. Many of your families who benefitted from the years free Internet service under the Home Access programme that kicked off in January 2010 will be wondering what to do when the time expires, so do make sure you help them take advantage of the deals we have negotiated.
If you are planning for a September start to your 1:1 programme then now is the time to get in touch. We look forward to helping you plan your programme. We hope to see you at our May conference where we have an amazing line-up of speakers to inspire you!
A Compelling case
"Pupils' work is improving three times faster than usual". "Pupils made seven times as many improvements to their work as they normally do."
If you would like your school to be able to make statements that the way you are using ICT with the pupils is creating double or treble the learning activity (or more!), then join in with those schools who are creating 'Compelling case' studies. These kinds of statements are coming from a new approach to looking at the impact of ICT - analysis of how learning activity is changed through use of ICT and 'reverse engineering' of the evidence from teachers' observations of improvements.
Roger Broadie, an ICT in Education Consultant is visiting some schools to work with them on this, while others are looking at using the same approach themselves. Roger can introduce you to the 'toolkit' for analysis of learning activity. A format for the case studies has been developed that combines a clear, powerful and simple story for parents and governors, with sufficient educational analysis to see where the critical improvements are and the posing of professional development questions for the teachers involved. As the schools are discovering how this can work for them this is being shared between all the schools involved.
If justifying investment in ICT is a concern and you would like to be able to present impact better, do join in -
Spring conference - May 25th - Lomdon
Is the potential of learning technology at the heart of your school improvement plans?
Schools have to adapt to a changing environment with increases in devolved responsibility allied with tighter budgets. Strong leadership will ensure schools get the returns they need from their ICT spend through improving standards and addressing the attainment gap and the digital divide.
The conference boasts an impressive line-up of speakers including; Rt. Hon. Baroness Morris, Prof. Stephen Heppell, Dr Peter Twining and Russell Prue. The day will prove an invaluable aid to leading your school through the challenges of budget reform while embracing technology to engage all pupils to ensure they reach their potential. It will also offer a new approach to teacher CPD.
Home Access comes of age
The Government’s Home Access programme started in January 2010 and many families were supplied with 12 month internet contracts, due to expire over the coming months. Internet providers like T-Mobile and Three are able to provide parents with the opportunity to stay online at affordable rates being made available to schools affiliated to the e-Learning Foundation. See story below in this newsletter.
e-Learning Foundation working with Three
Families can now get onto the Internet at home using a pre-paid 3G mobile dongle for the equivalent of less than £2.50 a week. The e-Learning Foundation has joined up with mobile phone operator Three to help our affiliated schools support families where children don’t currently have access to Broadband at home or their Home Access contract is about to expire.
For new customers, a dongle with a 12-month pre-paid contract with up to 3GB a month comes in at under £2.50 a week. Where budgets are tight a 12GB pre-paid service for up to 12 months costs in at just over £1 a week. The dongle comes loaded with all the software needed to install the device, and can be used on Microsoft or Apple computers.
If families already have the dongle, e.g. through the Home Access programme, they can get a new SIM card to use in their existing Three dongle. There are no hidden charges and no run on rates, with prices starting at just £44.50 for a SIM only deal and 12GB of data. Used wisely this could last for 12 months and work out at less than £1 a week!
Buy our charity guitar badges in Dixons stores
After our successful Christmas badges campaign, you can now buy our specially designed collectors’ guitar badges and phone charms in selected PC World and Currys stores. For every badge or charm sold, £1 goes directly to us.
Get the app....
Don’t forget that you can turn every pound you spend online into funds for the e-Learning Foundation and it won’t cost you a penny!
If you are thinking about booking your summer holiday, buying your weekly groceries or the latest bestseller, when you Give as you Live™, a portion of every purchase is sent to us at the e-Learning Foundation at no additional cost to you. Link to the app.
Virgin Money – making a difference
With no government funding we are working harder than ever to raise funds for our cause. If you would like to donate, just go online to www.e-learningfoundation.com/make-a-donation and click on the Virgin Money logo. This takes you to the Virgin Money page for our charity where you can make a regular donation (suggested amount £3 per month) or if you prefer, a single donation.
See more information
Keep taking the Tablets
The Longfield Academy maxim “Achieving Excellence Together” continues with new partner of choice, the Apple i-Pad Tablet.
The new Academy building is due to open in June 2011 and will launch their new e-Learning Programme to parents and students in March this year. The team have made rapid progress to enable the programme to be up and running this September.
Longfield Academy have places for up to 1150 boys and girls aged 11-18, Principal Neil Willis' vision is to embed technology into the core of the curriculum and believes this will be a key part of the continuing success of the school.
Tim Cross (Director of Technology & Enterprise) has recommended the e-Learning Foundation “ENABLE Programme” to support the Academy. The e-Learning Foundation will collect the parental donations and claim Gift Aid that will help cover the administration costs of the programme.
Time to affiliate
Affiliation expires at the end of March and schools will be able to renew in time for the next grants round by responding to a renewal notice due to go out very soon. Along with the advice and support of our School Liaison Team, affiliation brings with it access to supplier offers, including a means of keeping families online whose Home Access internet is about to run out, discounted conference rates and of course an opportunity to apply for a grant. For a very modest sum your school can benefit from all of these services – and help the e-Learning Foundation to continue to offer its services.
Gift Aid changes
From April 6th the Government is reducing Gift Aid by 11%, from 28.2% to 25%.