Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[Brimstone]

This is nothing new to me, when I'm invited to go into some primaries who are either part of a large MAT (with plenty of IT staff) or have been supported by the LA, I've come across iPads still boxed up despite being shipped six months ago to the school.

 

It drives me mad.

[enjay]

Has anyone successfully imported the DfE laptops into their own InTune? I tried importing the spreadsheet of hardware hashes, but nothing happened when I clicked import. What am I doing wrong?

[ChrisH]

Has anyone successfully imported the DfE laptops into their own InTune? I tried importing the spreadsheet of hardware hashes, but nothing happened when I clicked import. What am I doing wrong?

 

I have imported them via our private store without many issues. There were some entries on the list that did not have a hash or something else written in there, but for the most part they were fine.

[ITGuyNW]

I have spent a large amount of time working all this out...

 

Just received this email

[StevieM]

I've just tried to follow the link to the DfE's guide to resetting laptops and seen this:

 

Get help with technology will reopen on Friday 29 October

 

We announced on 22 October that we’ll be making a further 500,000 laptops and tablets available to schools, colleges, local authorities and trusts. These will be available to organisations through the Get help with technology service when it reopens on Friday 29 October.

 

In addition to more devices, the 22 October announcement also ends with this paragraph.

 

The department is also making £13 million available to schools and colleges that need to buy IT support to set up the devices. The funding also covers the costs of resetting and reconfiguring devices previously received via Get Help With Technology, which will allow schools to make full use of them in the long-term.

 

I'll be interested to see what that includes.

[elsiegee40]

Polite warning. This thread will be closed of discussion turns political

[Mr.Ben]

This is nothing new to me, when I'm invited to go into some primaries who are either part of a large MAT (with plenty of IT staff) or have been supported by the LA, I've come across iPads still boxed up despite being shipped six months ago to the school.

 

It drives me mad.

We have some windows laptops from the first tranche that came through LAs like this. No one at the LA seems to know how to get the BIOS passwords, so we can't rebuild to our spec or monitor them.

 

As soon as we had a choice we had Chromebooks and iPads.

 

Even though we are a Microsoft lead organisation, the quality of the windows laptops was atrociously poor.

[enjay]

We have some windows laptops from the first tranche that came through LAs like this. No one at the LA seems to know how to get the BIOS passwords, so we can't rebuild to our spec or monitor them.

 

Similar here with the Dynabooks from the first round. We have the BIOS passwords for them but can't find some drivers, including on Dynabook's website.

[6Foot2]

Similar here with the Dynabooks from the first round. We have the BIOS passwords for them but can't find some drivers, including on Dynabook's website.

 

Tagging @DynabookDawn, who has been helpful with Dynabook driver issues in other posts.

[DrCheese]

They're now going to be chucking more at us

 

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-pledges-extra-500k-laptops-for-poorest-pupils-facing-covid-disruption/

 

Am I alone in that I don't really need/want these now? We're turning some of our excess into trollies, but the devices are so low spec I doubt we'll get many years out of them.

[enjay]

They're now going to be chucking more at us

 

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-pledges-extra-500k-laptops-for-poorest-pupils-facing-covid-disruption/

 

Am I alone in that I don't really need/want these now? We're turning some of our excess into trollies, but the devices are so low spec I doubt we'll get many years out of them.

 

We'll take any you don't want :-) We're still finding students who are doing all their home learning on their phone, or families all sharing one computer, even after all the pushes we've had to identify them.

[Rob_D]

So apparently the Ordering portal is going to reopen on Friday so I can see my allocation, but I can't get them until I get the email some time in November/December. Why not just not show me the allocation until I an buy them like last time???

the Get help with technology service when it reopens on Friday 29 October. On that date, registered users will be able to view their organisation’s allocation of devices. [...] you will not be able to order devices before receiving your email.

https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/sign-in

[enjay]

So apparently the Ordering portal is going to reopen on Friday so I can see my allocation, but I can't get them until I get the email some time in November/December. Why not just not show me the allocation until I an buy them like last time???

 

https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/sign-in

 

So you know how many more you're getting and can start identifying recipients, then as soon as the laptops arrive you can pass them on.

[saggu]

They're now going to be chucking more at us

 

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-pledges-extra-500k-laptops-for-poorest-pupils-facing-covid-disruption/

 

Am I alone in that I don't really need/want these now? We're turning some of our excess into trollies, but the devices are so low spec I doubt we'll get many years out of them.

We are also happy to take any devices you don't want. We are in the same situation where one device is shared between 3 children or there is no device at all.

 

Many thanks.

[ITGuyNW]

I'm glad I downloaded all the passwords when I did, I didn't think they would actually get rid of all that information, unless its hidden somewhere?

 

We have 51 devices allocated to us but as they are being delivered from October 2021 onwards, they have none of the licenses in place for safeguarding etc so we still need to look into that as we have nothing in place for when they can take them home.

 

Safeguarding devices - Laptops and tablets - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)

[enjay]

they have none of the licenses in place for safeguarding etc so we still need to look into that as we have nothing in place for when they can take them home.

 

If you get the managed ones, they include some basic filtering on them.

[ITGuyNW]

If you get the managed ones, they include some basic filtering on them.

From the article

 

"Devices ordered from October 2021 onwardsLaptops and tablets ordered from October 2021 onwards are delivered with factory settings and do not have any DfE-managed software installed. Owners of devices are responsible for ensuring appropriate content filters and device management systems are in place."

[paulkerton]

If you get the managed ones, they include some basic filtering on them.

Not anymore. Factory settings from now on.

[enjay]

From the article

 

"Devices ordered from October 2021 onwardsLaptops and tablets ordered from October 2021 onwards are delivered with factory settings and do not have any DfE-managed software installed. Owners of devices are responsible for ensuring appropriate content filters and device management systems are in place."

 

Ah, hadn't seen that as we're not able to order our laptops yet. Fortunately, we have a Smoothwall so have the cloud filter option enabled on that.

[Rob446]

If we've been allocated 0 in this latest round, is there a way to appeal or apply etc.? Definitely have some kids who could use them.

[StevieM]

From the article

 

"Devices ordered from October 2021 onwardsLaptops and tablets ordered from October 2021 onwards are delivered with factory settings and do not have any DfE-managed software installed. Owners of devices are responsible for ensuring appropriate content filters and device management systems are in place."

So are we now required to enrol these new devices in an MDM?

[localzuk]

So are we now required to enrol these new devices in an MDM?

Well, that all depends on how you manage your devices, and how you comply with your responsibilities regarding safe internet access etc...

 

Realistically? Yes.

[StevieM]

That's what I figured. In the previous round, we were advised that they only needed to be enrolled in an MDM if we already had one in place due to the additional costs involved. Now that they are offering additional funding to support setup, I'd like to know if MDM costs will now be covered.

[kennysarmy]

So are we now required to enrol these new devices in an MDM?

 

No.

 

However if you allocate for students to take off site you would be wise to get the parents to sign to say they will be responsible for monitoring any internet activity.

[PrimaryNetMan]

You could do that, but we all know when child of said parent accesses something they shouldn't and they go to the local press with school provided device use to access... that piece of paper isn't going to help in the slightest. If a school is providing a device then it should be adequately safeguarded.