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Welcome to this special edition newsletter which is intended to provide you with helpful information about the benefits, implementation and use of secure cloud-based 
Digital Education Platforms. You will also find some links to free training resources.

Government funded support is available for schools that don't currently have a Digital Education Platform or are already using Office 365 or G Suite, but are not yet set up to assign work and communicate with pupils. Further information can be found below about how to apply for DfE funding.

Our aim is to support school communities as they adapt to new ways of working during these unprecedented times. If there is anything further that you think we could be doing to be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

On June 30th at 14:00 BST we will be hosting a webinar on the benefits, implementation and use of secure cloud-based Digital Education Platforms.

Register for this webinar here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What is Cloud Computing?
 
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Cloud Computing is a general term for the delivery of services over the Internet. The cloud is available via the Internet anytime, anywhere and from any device.

This represents a fundamental shift in the way that schools can access, use and pay for their ICT provision. Traditionally schools would host servers, applications and data within their premises.

Easy access to cloud resources from any location via the Internet provides a solid foundation for enabling online classrooms; which are vital for the successful delivery of distance teaching and learning.
 
 
 
The Benefits of Adopting a Cloud-Based Digital Education Platform.
 

A Digital Education Platform is a space where pupils' learning can continue outside of school as close to normal as possible.

These platforms are specifically designed for the delivery of remote learning; in an engaging and intuitive way that school websites and school email aren't. In these unprecedented circumstances, a Digital Education Platform is the closest alternative to a real classroom setting. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Pupils are able to access engaging curriculum content with ease and communicate digitally on any device with an Internet connection - regardless of location.

  • Teachers are able to assign individualised tasks, let pupils work together, assess work and quickly give individual feedback remotely.

  • Platforms enable secure communication between staff, pupils and parents in real time, using written word, voice and video. Allowing teacher/pupil dialogue and class discussions to continue remotely. Keeping pupils engaged when studying from home, improving their wellbeing, and reducing feelings of isolation.

  • Schools are able to deliver lessons, tutorials, and school assemblies flexibly and make recordings of their live stream sessions for pupils who are unable to view in real time - or those that benefit from replaying the sessions for further review.

The future benefits these platforms offer schools will remain long after schools reopen. As reduced class sizes in schools will mean that many pupils will rotate between studying at school, and studying at home, for the foreseeable future.
 
 
 
Information on applying for DfE Funding and Eligibility Criteria.
 

As per the recent government press release schools and trusts can currently apply for government funding to get set up on one of two free-to-use Digital Education Platforms: Google G Suite for Education or Microsoft Office 365 Education.

This funded support is available to state-funded primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units in England that:

  • Don't currently have a Digital Education Platform; or

  • Are already using Google G Suite for Education or Microsoft Office 365 Education, but are not yet set up to assign work and communicate with pupils

In other words, the funding criteria is that schools must not have students already set up with email / or have classroom groups already provisioned with students in G Suite or Office 365.

Set-up funding for individual schools varies across phase: eligible primaries will receive £1,500 and eligible secondaries £2,000. Funding for academies in trusts is capped at £1,000 per school, with an upper cap of £10,000 per trust.

Independent schools are not eligible for funding but can still apply for support as long as they cover the costs themselves.

You can apply for government-funded support through The Key for School Leaders.
 
 
 
Choosing the Best Solution for your School - Comparison: G Suite for Education and Office 365 Education.
 

Google and Microsoft both offer comprehensive digital platforms for education. The platform that is best suited for your school, academy or trust is likely to depend on your own preferences, as well as the needs of your future digital strategy and ICT roadmap.

Google G Suite for Education
 
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An increasing number of UK schools are exploiting Google G Suite for Education, a free range of productivity tools to enable teaching and learning. These cloud-based tools (which include Google Classroom, Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms) are currently used by more than 100 million teachers and students, and can be accessed anywhere and from any device.

Google Classroom is an intuitive and streamlined teaching tool that allows teachers to manage coursework. With Google Classroom, school staff can create classes, distribute assignments, grade and send feedback, and see everything in one place regardless of where they are working. The following YouTube video shows how quick and easy it is to deliver classes, add students, create content, and give feedback using Google Classroom.

Microsoft Office 365 Education
 
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A large number of UK schools have already signed up for Microsoft Office 365 Education. However, a significant number of these schools are only using Office 365 for staff email access. Many schools are not fully exploiting Office 365 as a distance learning and collaborative teaching tool.

Microsoft Teams for Education is the digital hub in Office 365 that brings together conversations, content, assignments, and apps in one place with collaborative classrooms. The following YouTube video showcases benefits of schools engaging students using Microsoft Teams for Education.

Comparison: G Suite for Education and Office 365 Education

A breakdown comparing some of the core school functionality of these platforms under the DfE funded scheme can be found via The Key for School Leaders website.
 
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Benefits of Linking your Digital Education Platform to your School's MIS.
 
 

Digital Education Platforms can be integrated with your school Management Information System (MIS).

Integration services allow users (as well as classroom and group memberships) in G Suite for Education and Office 365 Education to be automatically provisioned and updated.

This ensures that the cloud platform (and the information it contains) is only accessible to students and staff currently showing as being on the school roll in the MIS database. It also automatically aligns new and existing classes, pupils and teachers in the new school year.

A variety of MIS integration services are available. Some services allow for Single Sign On (SSO) - allowing a user to use one set of login credentials (e.g. username and password) to access multiple applications and systems. Reducing the number of passwords needed to be remembered by school staff and pupils and minimising disruption to learning.

The Scomis Hosted Applications Service for SIMS allows for integration services (supported under the DfE funded scheme) for both Google and Microsoft platforms.
 
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Free Support and Training Resources
 
 

Information, guidance and support for teachers and leaders on educating children during the coronavirus outbreak can be found in the following DfE publication.

Google G Suite for Education

The Google Teach from Home website is a hub of information and tools to help teachers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

In conjunction with our Google partner, Getech Education, Scomis customers can sign up for free weekly training videos via email here.

More links to G Suite for Education training resources can be found here.

Google Teach From Home - A temporary hub of information and tools to help teachers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Microsoft Office 365 Education

The Microsoft Education Remote Learning website contains resources, and training guides that will help support  IT educators, staff, and pupils to exploit Office 365 as a remote learning platform.

More links to Office 365 training resources can be found here.

EdTech Demonstrators Programme

The DfE has identified 20 schools and colleges which have demonstrated excellence in their use of technology to support teaching and learning and have the capacity to further support other schools and colleges.

The programme is designed to boost peer-to-peer support on the effective use of technology and has now been tailored to help schools and colleges provide education remotely.

One of our customers, Broadclyst Community Primary School (BCPS), has been awarded EdTech Demonstrator School status by the DfE for their use of Microsoft technology.

They have put on a programme of free event webinars which schools can sign up to, details of which can be viewed on their website.

A full list of EdTech Demonstrator Schools can be found on the DfE website.
 
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How Scomis can help you build on your Cloud Foundations
 
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The DfE scheme funds eligible schools for their initial setup of a Digital Education Platform to a set of baseline configuration standards which Google and Microsoft partners must stringently follow to enable schools to draw down the funding.

The baseline configuration gives schools the minimum set of cloud tools to deliver distance learning over the Internet - for the purposes of delivering pupils' education remotely.

Any services or work above the scope of the DfE baseline configuration standards do not qualify for any funding under the DfE scheme.

Many schools will wish to further exploit and embed the use of cloud technology into their schools moving forward and are therefore taking a phased implementation approach; leveraging the DfE funding for initial cloud commissioning work, and then more fully embedding it into their school environment.

As an agnostic solution provider we work with a range of partners who form part of the DfE programme and we are well placed to advise you on how best to utilise the DfE funding available in the short term; with a view to building on these cloud foundations and fully exploiting cloud technologies in the future.

From a Google perspective we work closely with Getech Education and we also partner with 123ICT in Oxfordshire.

From a Microsoft perspective we partner with a range of Microsoft Managed Service providers including Capita Education Software.

The table below provides an overview of what features are available as part of the DfE funded scheme and how Scomis can help you exploit your chosen technology moving forwards:

FeatureFunded by the DfE under the Digital Education Platform schemeProvided by Scomis
Advice and guidance on choosing an appropriate Digital Education Platform
✔
Advice on how your school or trust can best utilise the DfE funding available under the Platform Provisioning programme
✔
Registration and creation of a cloud platform✔
Creation of basic classroom / group structure using information stored within the School MIS✔
Creation of user accounts using information stored within the School MIS✔
Automatic provisioning of users and groups using MIS Synchronisation Tools✔
Deployment of core cloud apps✔
Ability to assign and receive work✔
Ability to securely communicate with staff and pupils✔
Ability to communicate with parents (if required)✔
Enable collaboration between pupils✔
Teach remotely✔
Test pupils' learning✔
Store resources for pupils and staff✔
Access from a web browser only✔
Initial handover training in administration of the platform and use of the classroom tools – sometimes schools will be signposted to EdTech Demonstrators for peer to peer support✔
Bespoke staff training and consultancy – allowing school stakeholders to feel confident in fully exploiting cloud tools to reduce workload whilst improving collaboration


✔
Free School / MAT Cloud Readiness Audit – confirming school premises are cloud ready and assessing any infrastructure requirements ✔
Secure cloud / on-premise to cloud backup solutions – giving you peace of mind
 		 ✔
Scope and design of solution based on customers' needs – ensuring on premise and cloud solutions meet school's individual needs ✔
Wifi Services – Assistance with upgrading from legacy to high speed wireless and Internet connectivity ✔
Phased Implementation Roadmaps – allowing schools to smoothly implement change and minimise disruption ✔
Hardware Procurement Services - helping schools obtain Best Value for Internet enabled user devices
 		 ✔
Hybrid Implementation Services– configuring systems to allow schools to seamlessly access cloud services from a mixed economy of devices: Windows devices / Chromebooks / iPads to get more out of what you already have.
 		 ✔
Cross platform collaboration –  to allow coexistence between apps and devices – for example teachers may wish to use Microsoft Outlook email on Chromebooks or Google Classroom on iPads. Useful when transitioning to a new cloud platform and some users wish to retain familiar software solution. ✔
Implementation of Single Sign On solutions – allowing users to access different systems seamlessly using the same username or password from a range of devices.  Meaning school stakeholders do not have to remember multiple usernames and passwords.  Useful where schools have a mixed estate of devices such as Windows devices, Chromebooks and iPads.  Magic badges (QR codes) can be used by pupils to sign into cloud services using a badge rather than remembering a complex password
 		 ✔
Management of devices from the cloud – allows schools to reduce the requirement and expense of replacing onsite servers.  And allows school owned devices to be securely managed when used both on and off site by staff and pupils ✔
Ongoing Scomis Support  - removing the burden from a school of managing their systems
 		 ✔
 
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Further information
 
 
The DfE has partnered with The Key to provide additional information to help schools choose the right platform and to apply for the funding via covid19.thekeysupport.com
For further advice and guidance please contact us on 01392 385300 or email at scomis@devon.gov.uk.
 
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Phone: 01392 385300
 
scomis@devon.gov.uk
 
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