Muhaimin

i think we should be realistic, step back and take a look at the situation everyone is discussing here. most applications do the same things whether that be recording attendance, dinners, updating pupil information. What makes an application special is the support that you recieve when things go bad. Let's face it, your not paying for the application because you can an application that does the same thing from a number of suppliers. What you are actually paying for is the support and if you are not getting that support isn't it time to think about alternatives? The market is opening up through several BECTA initiatives and hopefully this will filter down and improve the support that schools recieve. At the end of the day a school needs to think about what benefits itself which is not a desicion that should be made centrally or even locally. If you are unhappy with the service you recieve, there is no reason to stay with your current supplier. Look towards the other suppliers on the MOU, contact them and ask for a Demo - whats the harm in spending 1 hour of your time listening to something that may improve the way you work, make you more efficient and enable to talk to the right people you pay money to for support. ps. If you are worried about data migration - don't be. Transfers files and export files have come along way for this.

Grommit, is not possible to find a supplier who has a client support team that is backed up by a technical support team who you are able to speak to directly? its fair to say that most organisations have a hierarchichal system. However, the efficieny of that system is dictated by the policy that the supplier is willing to take when resolving calls. The most efficient supplier (and there are some available) will work in the following way where a call is taken by the client support person (1st line) - if this person is not able to resolve on the call then they will speak to the supervisor for the client support team (2nd line) - This should resolve most data issue's. This call should take no longer than 10-15 mins in most cases. If it is any longer then a technial suppport person (3rd line) should be involved. Email does not allow the proper communication for technial support issues.

This is a question I have always wondered myself. My first incling would be a tablet PC connected wirelessly to the server where the registers can be checked - however in order for this to be fool-proof - i think in addition it would be good to put the server in a fireproof housing/cuboard/safe (gives at least upto 1 hour protection in some cases) However, we are still relying on electronics. Therefore the following solution would suit all... Teachers take registers in classrooms through their MIS system which is linked to the admin office MIS system. The admin office check their MIS system to ensure that all registers are complete and then confirm thier registers - doing so they can also print out the registers for thier Dinners/Attendance and also to keep a paper record. This will then be avilable for fire drills.

This is a question I have always wondered myself. My first incling would be a tablet PC connected wirelessly to the server where the registers can be checked - however in order for this to be fool-proof - i think in addition it would be good to put the server in a fireproof housing/cuboard/safe (gives at least upto 1 hour protection in some cases) However, we are still relying on electronics. Therefore the following solution would suit all... Teachers take registers in classrooms through their MIS system which is linked to the admin office MIS system. The admin office check their MIS system to ensure that all registers are complete and then confirm thier registers - doing so they can also print out the registers for thier Dinners/Attendance and also to keep a paper record. This will then be avilable for fire drills.

IMO 90% of MIS issues should be able to be resolved on the same call either by talking to the client support person or through remote desktop help. A further 5% of MIS issues should be able to be resolved on the day of the call after the user has receieved an issue number and is contacted back. That leaves us with 5% of MIS issues wich may not be solved on the same call or same day. These issues, depending on severity, relies on the MIS Supplier to assess the situation e.g. if the application is not accessible by any user than an immediate fix/appointment either on the same day or next day should be made. Simple?

SIF will allow the flow of data to be made easier both vertically and horizontally SCHOOL <> LA <> DCSF SCHOOL <> SCHOOL (CTF already in place) However, SIF will not make it easier to pull data out of MIS systems instead it will hopefully make the MIS system hold more current information that the LA or DCSF hold and have transferred to your MIS or vice versa. Isn't the answer to contact your MIS supplier, put in a development request for the specific report you need, get given an issue number for the development and then in agreement with your supplier the report/export should be avilable through a single button (maybe additional options for criteria) within the agreed time frame - lets say aproximately 3.5 months or less. Simple.

are these photos printable onto a report such as a pupil details report or emergency contact information reports when pupils go on a school journey...if so, shouldn't parental consent be taken as these reports will be available outside of the MIS?

There have been a number of changes with specifications - however, a major change this year particularly is the new way in which LA's and the DCSF are collecting data, namely COLLECT. As with all things new, there will be teething problems, however once these settle we should see fewer patches.....(hopefully)!