Get help with technology programme - how to claim?

[tmoon-mint]

Hi all,

 

My school would like to make a claim for the costs incurred setting up their latest DFE allocation of devices as per this link: Get help with technology programme: conditions of device grants for technical support - GOV.UK (http://www.gov.uk)

 

Not sure if im just being really stupid but I cant see how you actually make a claim. The link above tells you what you can claim for but not how to do it. Has anyone done this for their school and if so how?

 

Thanks.

[StevieM]

That's a very good question! I've just logged into the portal but I can't see anything in there either.

[tmoon-mint]

Ive had a response. Apparently the form isnt available yet and it will be posted on the ESFA website but they couldnt provide me with a date.

[StevieM]

I've just contacted them to see if the funding will cover the cost of MDM and filtering licences. I've probably left it a bit late, though, as the cut off date for purchasing support is today.

[tmoon-mint]

I am fairly sure it does cover the cost of MDM licences as well.

[StevieM]

EFSA forwarded my email to the DfE's 'Get Help With Technology' bods, who have sent this reply:

 

Thank you for your email.

 

We know that some organisations are not currently in a position to ensure that all devices received through the Get help with technology service can be safely used by children and young people. For that reason, we’ve put the devices grant in place.

 

Eligible schools and other settings will be able to claim for two types of device grants:

 

Restricted Device Grant

All eligible settings will be able to claim grant funding to help meet the cost of resetting DfE restricted devices. Up to £35 per restricted device may be claimed, to cover costs incurred between 1 November 2021 and 14 January 2022.

 

Unrestricted Device Grant

All eligible settings will be able to claim grant funding to help meet the cost of setting up devices received in AY21/22. Up to £25 per devices may be claimed, to cover costs incurred between 1 November 2021 and 14 January 2022.

 

The funding claim form will be available in January 2022 through ESFA.

 

For eligibility requirements and other conditions of the grant please see Get help with technology programme: conditions of device grants for technical support.

 

The wording is different to the original scope in the linked document:

 

• for costs incurred for technical support... relating to resetting a DfE restricted device
  
• for costs incurred... for technical support relating to setting up a device received from DfE on or after 1 November 2021
  

 

I'm still not entirely sure if MDM and filtering licences are covered by the funding, but it's a bit late to worry now as I've already ordered them.

[ITGuyNW]

Claim form is live now

 

Get help with technology programme: claim form guidance - GOV.UK (http://www.gov.uk)

[Andy2789]

Is anyone aware if claims is only available for external support, or if claims can be made for internal staffing costs to do the work... As it put a huge amount on IT teams internally to set them up, or is it only if you brought support in? Guidance is as clear as mud!

[tmoon-mint]

Is anyone aware if claims is only available for external support, or if claims can be made for internal staffing costs to do the work... As it put a huge amount on IT teams internally to set them up, or is it only if you brought support in? Guidance is as clear as mud!

 

The wording to me suggests its for bringing external support in to set them up or reset the older ones.

 

 

• for costs incurred for technical support... relating to resetting a DfE restricted device
  
• for costs incurred... for technical support relating to setting up a device received from DfE on or after 1 November 2021
  

[StevieM]

Is anyone aware if claims is only available for external support, or if claims can be made for internal staffing costs to do the work

 

I doubt it very much. The claim form guidance says:

 

This grant is intended to support organisations that may not currently have the capacity to reset devices they received from Get Help with Technology.

 

If you were able to do it all in house, then I would say that you were not eligible. If staff were paid overtime to do the work, then things may be different.

 

The other thing to consider, and this is what I’m banking on, is whether you incurred additional costs to make the devices safe for pupils to do school work at home, e.g. remote filtering, MDM solutions/licences, that you didn’t already use. That’s what I’ll be submitting a claim for.

 

EDIT: I agree about the guidance being as clear as mud, though. Even when I asked for clarification, the response was vague (see my previous post).

Edited February 18, 2022 by StevieM

[jmak]

 

EDIT: I agree about the guidance being as clear as mud, though. Even when I asked for clarification, the response was vague (see my previous post).

 

And notoriously unclear terms and conditions are intended to make it as easy as possible to claim...

 

[/sarcasm]

[StevieM]

I'm trying to claim for reset costs for 16 restricted laptops and 13 new, but the form is reporting:

 

The number of devices you have entered is more than the number of DfE devices we have a record for.

 

In fact, it says that even if I just try to claim for 1 device.

 

I've submitted them as additional devices from 'Other' and explained that 'Other' is actually TechSource/DfE.

 

I'm claiming for the cost of Securly filtering, Mosyle iPad management, and Intune management. Let's see what happens...