Schools

Funding for your learning platform

The Government's e-strategy sets the expectation that:

• by spring 2008 every pupil should have access to a personalised online learning space with the potential to support an e-portfolio
• by 2010 every school should have integrated learning and management systems (a comprehensive suite of learning platform technologies).

To help meet these requirements, the DCSF is allocating £41 million to local authorities under Standards Fund Grant 121a.

The provision of a personalised online learning space for every pupil is the minimum requirement, and the DCSF advises local authorities to consult with their schools' forum or equivalent body and target the funding to achieve maximum impact.

The procurement approach is for local authorities and/or regional broadband consortia (RBCs) to form collaborative arrangements that will meet national framework agreements.

Becta's Learning Platform Services Framework offers a list of approved suppliers to provide a learning platform for schools.

Local authorities are expected to assist schools in purchasing infrastructure services, consultancy services, software licensing, interactive whiteboards, internet safety provision and learning services. Provision within and between local authorities and/or RBCs is variable, so the DCSF expects local authorities and RBCs to choose the most appropriate next steps in line with the national targets for provision in 2008 and 2010.

Where the functionality to provide an online learning space for every pupil does not exist, it is expected that the local authority (working in association with the RBC where appropriate) will ensure that this level of provision and the associated access is available by 2008.

Where the functionality is provided but coverage or potential for access from outside school does not match the requirements, it is expected that the local authority (and where appropriate, working in association with the RBC) will ensure that appropriate access is available by 2008.

In all circumstances, but in particular where the functionality and potential for external access is provided, local authorities should consider carefully the next steps for working towards the 2010 target. In this situation, the Learning Platform Services Framework provides a vehicle for procurement of more comprehensive services.

For further information on Standards Fund Grant 121a, see Teachernet.

Further information on the School Standards Grant 2006-08 (SSG) and SSG (Personalisation) Conditions and Calculators is also available on Teachernet.

Find out about Becta's procurement frameworks.

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