Controlled. IT Support Services for Schools and Academies Guidance for Schools Connectivity

Transcription

1 IT Support Services for Schools and Academies Guidance for Schools Connectivity Version 2.0 Page 1 of 6 9 November 2015

2 Contents IT Support Services for Schools and Academies... 1 Guidance for Schools Connectivity Document Control Purpose History... 3 a. Embc... 3 b. Embc to empsn migration November Connectivity Services... 4 a. Why do I need to consider connectivity services now?... 4 b. Derbyshire County Council General advice to schools... 4 c. Where else can I seek advice and guidance?... 5 d. Advice for schools Contact Information... 6 a. IT Support Service (Derbyshire County Council)... 6 b. Children s Services (Derbyshire County Council)... 6 c. empsn Office... 6 Version 2.0 Page 2 of 6 09 November 2015

3 1. Document Control Version Author Date Comments 0.1 Paul Livingstone 03/11/15 Draft pre publication 1.0 Paul Livingstone 06/11/15 Reviewed 2.0 Paul Livingstone 06/11/15 Updated 3.0 Paul Livingstone 09/11/15 Published 2. Purpose This document provides schools in Derbyshire advice and guidance on connectivity services, taking into consideration the increasing demands for connectivity and application services delivered online. We also aim to help schools understand that careful selection of service provision is based on price, convenience, security, safeguards and procurement due diligence. 3. History a. Embc Prior to October 2012 schools connectivity and associated application services were provided through the embc consortium. The East Midlands Broadband Consortium (embc) was and still is a member of NEN The Education Network, the network of regional broadband consortium providing procurement routes, advice and guidance, and influence to government on services in the education sector. Derbyshire County Council was and still is a member of the empsn organisation as are all schools who purchase services on the framework. Services were provided to all schools and procured centrally. This central procurement ceased in 2012 with additional responsibility of budget and procurement decision making handed to schools. b. Embc to empsn migration 2012 During 2012 schools were provided advice and guidance to purchase services from the empsn framework. empsn (East Midlands Public Sector Network) continues to be better known to schools as embc, and it provides support for schools on a range of educational and technology solutions. The empsn framework was the recommended route for schools in Derbyshire to purchase connectivity and Version 2.0 Page 3 of 6 09 November 2015

4 associated application services, as the framework was procured meeting EU procurement regulations and with full due diligence undertaken on the service providers. 4. November Connectivity Services a. Why do I need to consider connectivity services now? Schools connected to the empsn network are now into the third year of a four year contract. Schools will be contacted by KCOM in November providing contract renewal and connectivity options. Other schools choosing alternative connectivity provision are likely to have signed three year contracts with suppliers and depending on the terms and conditions, may now be on rolling month by month, quarterly or annual terms. Now is a good time to review these contracts, to determine whether they are meeting the school s requirements. If school s are considering changing supplier, after following a due diligence exercise, they should ensure that current contract obligations are understood, and whether there are early termination charges before making commitments with new suppliers. b. Derbyshire County Council General advice to schools We advise that all schools should consider the purchase of connectivity and application services carefully, taking into consideration a number of factors and not purely on bandwidth speeds. Schools should understand and plan for their demands and expectations of connectivity, ie what services need to be accessed using a web browser, demands made by devices for updates and software/app installation, and who should have access to the school network. A reliable and secure connectivity service is essential to teaching, learning and management within schools particularly as schools take full advantage of new cloud and web-based services. Schools use connectivity intensively, regularly dealing with large quantities of data and media-rich applications and services. Generally, schools require higher levels of security and network performance than most homes and many businesses. Version 2.0 Page 4 of 6 09 November 2015

5 An educational broadband provision should include elements such as a core service of: Connectivity Filtering, firewall and security And can include other services such as: hosting Content Other facilities - such as video conferencing and online back-up. The IT Support Service team can provide schools support in their identification of needs and selection of core and additional services, for instance, secure Guest/BYOD (Bring your own device) wireless access and filtering, access to educational content from the NEN network and other education software providers. c. Where else can I seek advice and guidance? The DFE (Department for Education) also provide the following guidance: /ICT_buying_advice_for_your_school.pdf NEN The Education Network provide the following guidance: d. Advice for schools Schools with empsn network connectivity will shortly receive a contract renewal letter providing contract options for the period November 2016 October The connectivity options provided will include a recommended connectivity type specific for your school, following extensive review by the empsn office and KCOM of the current connectivity services options available. The renewal letter will provide, in most cases, three connectivity options to choose from. The renewal letter will indicate, where appropriate, how the change in connectivity service (based on the new technologies) will be delivered during 2016 prior to the new contract terms commencing. Current contracts for connectivity services from KCOM schools in Derbyshire started in November 2012 and will continue until October 2016 (with a few exceptions). These contracts were amortised (upfront capital costs + running costs over contract / no of contract years) ensuring costs spread over the contract period. The new contracts will be amortised over the period of the new contract (3 years). Version 2.0 Page 5 of 6 09 November 2015

6 We advise all schools both on the empsn network or otherwise to consult with the IT Support Service and/or the empsn office to discuss the options for connectivity and application services. Moving to a new connectivity supplier before contracts end will either incur early termination charges or liability for charges for the remainder of the contract term. Derbyshire County Council are continuing to work with BT on the delivery of the Digital Derbyshire project and schools will be contacted by empsn and KCOM as and when new services become available. 5. Contact Information a. IT Support Service (Derbyshire County Council) Contact: IT Support Service for Schools and Academies Tel: option 1 Contact: [email protected] Paul Livingstone Tel: IT Support Service for Schools and Academies Manager [email protected] b. Children s Services (Derbyshire County Council) Contact: Chris Newton Tel: Head of Service, Information and ICT, Children s Services [email protected] c. empsn Office Tel: Web: [email protected] Version 2.0 Page 6 of 6 09 November 2015