Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[Andycat]

Anyone had the email yet?

[mavhc]

Isn't Umbrella just DNS filtering from OpenDNS? Can't the 4g router just set the same DNS for DHCP?

[pete]

Isn't Umbrella just DNS filtering from OpenDNS? Can't the 4g router just set the same DNS for DHCP?

 

It depends how much they paid: https://learn-umbrella.cisco.com/datasheets/cisco-umbrella-package-comparison-2

 

The basic version (DNS Security Essentials) allows adding custom lists, but there's not much differentiation from bare OpenDNS beyond the umbrella reporting backend (that we won't have access) for potential issues.

 

But if you spend more, you can get full custom filtering.

[mavhc]

Well, I'm glad it's a PDF, imagine if one day someone invents a way to display information via a web page.

 

So there's an "intelligent proxy" that routes "risky" domains via them, and requires their root CA installing. Makes sense. Also there's a local agent installed to provide better DNS stickiness and allow off site IPs to still be filtered according to your settings.

[Primus]

So are they providing the Google management licenses or do we have to procure them separately?

[enjay]

Do we have to allocate these devices to the categories of students identified by the Government? All our LACs and disadvantaged Year 10s have already been provided with what they need for home learning, but we are still getting requests from families who are finding it difficult to manage the number of children and devices they have.

[pete]

Response re data caps on the dongles and filtering. My queries are in bold:

 

3GB/month as the sole source of Internet seems a little low given the lessons being delivered in our trust. Can we pay for extra data to be allocated, should it prove insufficient?

 

Once a user has used all of their 3GB allowance they will get a web page stating the Internet is no longer available. Responsible bodies will have access to check the current status of all their SIMs, allowing them to identify units that are running low (or now being used).

 

The data allowance is pooled for each responsible body and can be either transferred or topped up as required, there will be a helpdesk available to responsible body (only) for that purpose. The initial six month contract will be reviewed by DfE in due course.

 

We are keeping this limit under review and your feedback is really helpful as part of this.

 

Do you know who the filtering provider is and are we able to add trust-wide amendments if it's blocking a resource we rely on?

 

Where a responsible body orders their devices pre-configured, they will be set up to use a filtering system that is subscribed to the IWF watchlist for relevant categories and the Home Office restricted content. The same applies to the 4G hotspots.

 

This system is not customisable by a responsible body and cannot provide the kinds of alerts to key staff of at risk behaviour that you may expect from a system you would set up yourselves. However as the devices are owned by the Responsible Bodies, they can add or replace the solution with their own if preferred.

[Andycat]

Has anyone actually been able to order anything yet?

[msi_school]

I have had a few questions answered about this but no order date:

 

• What is the make and model of the windows laptops?

You may choose devices from the three options available on the ordering system. It will not be possible to give choice over the exact make and model of device. There are three computer personas to chose from, including Clamshell Windows laptop, Chromebook or Windows Tablet. Microsoft Windows based devices will be provided preconfigured with either Microsoft Windows ‘Shape the Future’ or ‘S’ mode.

 

• What is the make and model of the 4G routers?

The 4G routers are mifi style devices powered by USB but are WiFi hotspots that do not require a physical connection with the device. The SIM that is pre-installed, together with the router, are configured to only operate using a private data connection to a filtered service using the best available mobile network. We cannot provide specific make/model details as there are multiple devices from different providers being shipped.

 

• As I understand it the laptops come with windows installed and set up to use Umbrella to implement content filtering is this correct?

Please be advised that Office 365 applications will not be pre-installed as may have been previously indicated. Where your Responsible Body already use Microsoft Office 365 users will be able to use the web based versions of the Office applications (and for RBs using G-Suite, those applications would also be available). Responsible bodies that do not have their own Microsoft Office 365 or Google GSuite tenancy may be eligible for DfE funded support to set up a system (see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19#get-help-using-online-education-platforms). If a child in social care has access through their school their login and password will allow them to access that system.

 

Where a responsible body orders their devices pre-configured, they will be set up to use a filtering system that is subscribed to the IWF watchlist for relevant categories and the Home Office restricted content.

 

• We need to set up management of these devices before October 2020 and can do so on receipt before issuing them?

Where the device is centrally managed by DfE, there is no facility for the Responsible Body to make alterations to the setup of the device - they are delivered pre-configured to a standard setup. If a responsible body has made the decision to set the devices up themselves they may can re-image the device and load any relevant software upon receipt, as it is their device.

 

• Can we reimage the laptops with our standard image?

Yes. In the ordering system you will be able to indicate that you wish to configure them yourselves.

 

• There is no content filtering on the 4G routers?

The same filter system that applies to devices also applies to 4G routers.

 

• Are the 4G routers the USB type or the MiFi type?

The form factor will be as a Mifi style device with SIM pre-installed.

 

• What is the data cap on the 4G routers?

DfE have contracted a 6 month data contract with a 3GB monthly data limit.

 

• Are all the routers using one pool of data or is it individual?

The data allowance is pooled for each responsible body and can be either transferred or topped up as required, there will be a helpdesk available to responsible body (only) for that purpose. The initial six month contract will be reviewed by DfE in due course.

 

• If it is an individual pool of data per router can this be transferred between routers?

Please see the above questions and answer.

 

• Can we purchase additional data if required?

Once a user has used all of their 3GB allowance they wil get a web page stating the Internet is no longer available. Responsible bodies will have access to check the current status of all their SIMs, allowing them to identify units that are running low (or now being used). Helpdesk options will include transferring data between SIMS and topping up data (at the expense of the responsible body).

 

• Can we replace the SIM in the Routers if required?

No. The routers are pre-programmed with specific settings to make them work securely with the provided SIMs. Another SIM will not work with the router and using the provided SIM in another device will result in the SIM becoming barred. The administrator credentials for the routers will not be made available to allow modification during the lifetime of the programme.

 

• How long is the contract on the 4g routers?

The initial contract period for the 4G Routers is six months, however DfE do have the option to review this nearer the end of the contract period. Data allowance is set per device but pooled across the responsible body so that it is possible to transfer allowance between units. There will be provision to review usage and for DfE or for the responsible body to make more data available.

[ozydave]

Hi,

 

Had an email this morning, It says we get 6gb per month

 

The 4G wireless routers will come with a pre-paid monthly data allowance of 6GB a month, for 6 months. The data allowance starts when the router is activated, which will be the day you receive it.

[FN-GM]

Hi,

 

Had an email this morning, It says we get 6gb per month

 

The 4G wireless routers will come with a pre-paid monthly data allowance of 6GB a month, for 6 months. The data allowance starts when the router is activated, which will be the day you receive it.

 

What will last a whole 2 minutes then!

[mavhc]

6GB/month seems fine, assuming 8 hours a day of audio lessons @64kbps, that's 24 days/month

[3s-gtech]

Some degree of filtering (I’d guess DNS based) has been applied to the 4G routers/hotspots that have been deployed here. Seems some people are really cross about it, but considering the costs involved it looks like it was partly to preserve data limits - Spotify is blocked by all accounts. The fact that Youtube can’t be blocked nullifies that though!

[enjay]

6GB/month seems fine, assuming 8 hours a day of audio lessons @64kbps, that's 24 days/month

 

Except many lessons are lots of Youtube (480p by default) and Zoom/Teams, not audio. One of the students we provided for ran up over 6GB in a day, as apparently the parent they live with couldn't help with the work, so the student Zoomed their mum for help.

[mavhc]

You'd think having computer lessons for years they'd be able to calculate something useful to avoid that

[psydii]

I've been looking at sourcing unlimited SIMS for the most in need. Not cheap. But not as bad as I was expecting, still can only afford a handful. The IT budget and the associated strategy/refresh plan is shot right through.

 

We're not expecting any devices until July at the earliest, not sure if I've seen any official comms to that effect though.

[enjay]

I've been looking at sourcing unlimited SIMS for the most in need. Not cheap. But not as bad as I was expecting, still can only afford a handful.

 

Our school mobiles - and therefore the student mifi devices too - are on a tariff where we have a data pool shared between all devices. We did have 20GB/month, but have upped that a lot. Even so, we're paying around £300/month for 250GB which I don't think is so bad, and can drop back down to 20GB again after lockdown.

 

The IT budget and the associated strategy/refresh plan is shot right through.

 

My budget is okay despite all this because Pupil Premium resources is picking up the cost, but ultimately it is a lot of money being spent on these short-term things which we now can't spend on other resources for the students. Don't get me wrong, buying the kit was the right thing to do, I just hope we'll see additional funding from the Government to cover it (if they're picking up 80% of some people's salaries, why not?) but of course I'm not optimistic.

 

We're actually wondering about letting some students keep the mifi beyond lockdown, as they will still need Internet access even once school has returned to normal. That's a bit of a minefield, though.

[msi_school]

I've been looking at sourcing unlimited SIMS for the most in need. Not cheap. But not as bad as I was expecting, still can only afford a handful. The IT budget and the associated strategy/refresh plan is shot right through.

 

We're not expecting any devices until July at the earliest, not sure if I've seen any official comms to that effect though.

 

You cant replace the SIMS in these routers I asked about this and got the following responce

 

• Can we replace the SIM in the Routers if required?

No. The routers are pre-programmed with specific settings to make them work securely with the provided SIMs. Another SIM will not work with the router and using the provided SIM in another device will result in the SIM becoming barred. The administrator credentials for the routers will not be made available to allow modification during the lifetime of the programme.

[FN-GM]

6GB/month seems fine, assuming 8 hours a day of audio lessons @64kbps, that's 24 days/month

 

No doubbt they will be used for other things as well.

[DrCheese]

No doubbt they will be used for other things as well.

 

Yup - Unless the DFE are blocking Windows updates via their intune it'll be dead after each Patch Tuesday - Not sure how big ChromeOS updates are.

 

The Windows devices are in S mode by default so that avoids Office etc being updated. But still, I don't think it'll last long and parents will go straight to the schools wanting them to top them up.

 

If schools start setting youtube videos (or live teaching) then these will last all of 5 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I'm really impressed with the scheme as a whole, but the 4g thing doesn't seem all that thought out.

[mavhc]

Chrome releases a full OS update about every 6 weeks. Minor updates, such as security fixes and software updates, happen every 2–3 weeks. The average full Chrome OS update is over 400 MB and minor updates are about 50 MB.

[enjay]

The Windows devices are in S mode by default so that avoids Office etc being updated.

 

So the official advice is not to patch computers now?

[mavhc]

Why does S mode avoid Office being updated?

[timbo343]

This might have been posted before but ff anyone wants the guides from ComputaCenter, there are here -

https://www.computacenter.com/uk/supporting-online-learning-and-safeguarding-technical-guides?

[DrCheese]

Why does S mode avoid Office being updated?

 

Because they aren't installed - It's the web versions only.