The demise of eLC (E-learning Credits)

[Ex-MGSTech]

Just a quick note..

 

 

Many of you may be aware that the e-learning Credits scheme comes to an end this August.

 

You must have spent any outstanding eLC’s by then.

 

 

There are no eLC credits for 2008-9 so you can only use what (if any) you have left.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[joe90bass]

We never had them to start with

 

I used to love getting calls from sales staff asking us to spend ELCs with them, the conversation quickly stopped when I mentioned we never had them in Wales

[DMcCoy]

Hooray \o/

 

 

Erm, I mean how sad that staff wont be able to rush out to buy really awful education software to throw at me at the last minute

[gaz350]

I think they have it in the fine print that its a requirement to spend it on totally useless software and give the IT Admins 2 mins to install it.

[Guest PatBoland]

Nice, maybe software purchasing will come through me now.

Although I have been asked by a department for a spare machine to test software on before purchase? Do any of you guys let departments test their own software all be it standalone first! Good/Bad idea possibly?

[localzuk]

It isn't that they're going away as such, but the funds are being merged with some other grants which can be used more generally...

[Guest PatBoland]

It isn't that they're going away as such, but the funds are being merged with some other grants which can be used more generally...

 

Yes, that is what we were told which for me is better control as my line manager is the Bursar.

[Sylv3r]

It isn't that they're going away as such, but the funds are being merged with some other grants which can be used more generally...

 

For info....

 

From April 2008, a new Harnessing Technology Capital Grant is being allocated through the Standards Fund. The previously available separate ICT grants for national digital infrastructure for schools [retained by the Local Authority] and e-learning credits [devolved to schools] cease.

[Sylv3r]

Some other key info:

 

This is a ring-fenced grant and is available to support schools in delivering the following DCSF priorities:-

• The upgrade of connectivity bandwidths appropriate to particular circumstances and needs, ensuring learners have good access to internet-based services and resources to support their learning at any time while in school.

• The extension of ICT access and ICT-based services.

• the implementation of learning platforms to enable learners to store and access their work and related information and resources on a secure online space, enabling teachers to share resources and view individual progress more easily.

• Investment in a range of technologies to support classroom-based learning (for example, interactive whiteboards and related tools, and other technologies like data loggers).

 

DCSF points out that Devolved Formula Capital and School Development Grant are also sources of funds for ICT.

 

Local Authorities are expected to retain 25% of their allocation centrally to ensure that all schools receive the benefits of aggregated purchasing, including the provision of broadband through regional broadband consortia or their approved suppliers. An additional amount is possible, if schools agree, and there is evidence of efficiency.

 

 

There are several national and local priorities which it is suggested these funds be directed towards:-

 

Learning Platform

 

DCSF requires all Local Authorities to ensure that every institution is able to offer a personal online learning space, accessible 24/7, to store coursework, resources, results and achievements.

 

It is expected schools will continue to invest in a range of technologies to support classroom-based learning (for example, interactive whiteboards and related tools, and other technologies like data loggers).

[enjay]

Nice, maybe software purchasing will come through me now.

 

It could have done anyway - staff here don't spend the (very small number of) ELCs without checking with me.

 

Although I have been asked by a department for a spare machine to test software on before purchase? Do any of you guys let departments test their own software all be it standalone first! Good/Bad idea possibly?

 

Interesting idea. The thing is, so often the problem is not with the application itself but with convincing it to run on a locked-down network, so a teacher installing and testing an application on a standalone "normal" de-restricted PC might give a false sense of confidence about the validity of a program.

 

We never had them to start with

 

I used to love getting calls from sales staff asking us to spend ELCs with them, the conversation quickly stopped when I mentioned we never had them in Wales

Similar here - as in indy, we only get a few in our pre-school which have to be spent on pre-school stuff.

[Guest PatBoland]

Yes, that is always the case staff do not appreciate the difference between standalone/home PC and network PC's - hence 'the blank' look I get when I try to explain!!

[CyberNerd]

Is it the elc money that has now been re-directed to LA level so they can provide us with "approved supplier" VLE's to replace our existing moodles (which currently offers more features, lower cost, better integration, easier to use....)

Makes sense.

[enjay]

Has anyone pieced together what this cessation/new system means to independent schools with pre-school ELCs? As we can only spend the ELCs in the pre-school, so most if not all of the priorities which Sylv3r lists aren't applicable. Does this mean that we will no longer get credits, that we will get the new ones for "general use" but not be able to spend them because we don't have enough, or something else entirely?

[SpuffMonkey]

Nice, maybe software purchasing will come through me now.

Although I have been asked by a department for a spare machine to test software on before purchase? Do any of you guys let departments test their own software all be it standalone first! Good/Bad idea possibly?

 

I put an unrestricted PC in the staff room for people to play with trial software - it was never used and ended up dumped on the top of a filing cabinet in the end....and it didn't stop teachers throwing a nasty home copied CD in my desk and telling me to install it by after break ...as if...

[elsiegee40]

I don't know Nick, but have just banged off an email to KCC to find out what's happening. This change does not only affect independent schools, it also affects all the independent nurseries & pre-schools as well... and there are many!

[Geoff]

AFAIK elc's for preschools/nurseries are stopping entirely.

[dave.81]

I'm so glad to hear this, being an Independant school we never got them and i do believe that they have kept the cost of a lot of software really high.

[SimpleSi]

i do believe that they have kept the cost of a lot of software really high.

 

And caused some really bad 16bit software to have its life extended well beyond its initial platform base.

 

regards

 

Simon

[Andie]

I've been looking into the new Harnessing Technology Grant after finding this thread. Although elcs were very annoying because they could only be used for software, and then not on all software, we have found them useful for paying two big bills which they were allowed to fund: Espresso subsciption and payment to the company who designed and host our school website. I did wonder if the new grant would mean that we would have to find other money for these, but it looks like we will be OK depending on the amount of grant allocated to us. Espresso is really coming into it's own now that we have the IWBs, and the website currently helps us keep parents informed about the school and what is happening here. The website may change once we start looking at the Kaleidos VLP we have been given by the LEA, and we will presumably need to use the grant to pay for this after a couple of years, but at least I think we are safe to carry on for now.

 

For anyone else interested, some links to info about the new grant are below:

 

Becta Local authorities - Funding - Harnessing Technology Grant - ICT funding 2008 to 2011

 

Department for Children, Schools and Families : Publications : e-Strategy

[Andie]

I've been sent a link to the FAQs on the new Harnessing Technology Grant on the Becta website. It may give us a bit of a problem, as it looks from this that we can no longer fund our Espresso subscription and website hosting subscription from this, which was previously possible from eLcs. Also, interestingly, we should have had our first quarter of funding from this from the LEA in May!!! Not aware we've got it yet.

 

Here's the link:

 

Becta Local authorities - Funding - Harnessing Technology Grant - Frequently asked questions about the Harnessing Technology Grant

 

Anyone out there had any guidance from their LEA on what they can use this for specifically, or, more helpfully possibly, what isn't included?

[enjay]

I note the table that says "the grant is paid quarterly ... according to the following timetable" and then lists 5 dates...

[Sylv3r]

I note the table that says "the grant is paid quarterly ... according to the following timetable" and then lists 5 dates...

 

As far as I am aware we have been given our full allocation already.

[GrumbleDook]

One thing we are investigating at the moment is that the Harnessing Technology grant is not for subscription based models ... so alternative funding needs to be arranged for certain things we pay for.

[Andie]

I have now been told that elcs were treated as capital funding, and therefore we can use the new fund to purchase the subscriptions we used elcs for. But not sure how correct that is, or whether it applies to every LA...

[Sylv3r]

I have now been told that elcs were treated as capital funding, and therefore we can use the new fund to purchase the subscriptions we used elcs for. But not sure how correct that is, or whether it applies to every LA...

 

Not as far as the Government guidelines state although they are quite open and are open to interpretation - if your LA say its fine then I think you should be safe but its the use of the word CAPITAL that would suggest to me this is not for subscription based material.