Management Information Sheet

Background
You will be aware that Norfolk County Council Members have requested that ICT Solutions is integrated with NCC's ICT Services to create a single shared ICT service in 2011 and that this is being delivered via the ICT Services for Schools Project. This MI Sheet provides feedback to schools following the Project Board meeting held 16^th February 2011 when the Service and Products - Initial Proposal was discussed in detail before being agreed by the Board.

Services and Products - Initial Proposal
This describes initial proposals for ICT services and products to support schools. If you wish to read the full document please refer to MI Sheet 32/11. A brief summary of the proposal's contents follows:

The proposal is strongly influenced by the feedback received from schools during the consultation process. It's been developed with a view to affordability and recognises the very different national context which now exists, in terms of both funding and government priorities

The proposal recognises that one size doesn't fit all so offers a 'pick and mix' approach to products and services. It clearly identifies which ICT services are essential, and why. It recognises the need for product continuity coupled with solid support and training to ensure that maximum benefits are driven out of ICT investment

Proposed Services:

The Network service is the essential component of the ICT service as it provides connectivity to the majority of ICT services. Some secondary school concerns regarding poor performance are being addressed (BT has already made some of the infrastructure changes required and schools are reporting an improved service). A range of Internet filtering options are proposed

The Support service will move towards self service support and deliver support remotely wherever possible (as this is faster and more cost effective) whilst continuing to offer a 'named field engineer' service where required. This will be supplemented by 'Locality Teams' who have a range of skills that can be made available to all schools within a certain area. Access to County Council infrastructure will be made available (to reduce the cost of replacement ICT infrastructure) together with access to County Council contracts and procurement services (to achieve greater economies of scale). It will be recommended that schools have an Annual ICT Health Check to ensure that their ICT equipment and infrastructure is set-up in the most appropriate and advantageous way

The Management Information System service will focus on Capita SIMS implementation and support

The Virtual Learning Environment / Content service will offer Fronter as a VLE for secondary schools (and those primary schools who wish to use it). Espresso will continue to be made available to primary/special schools. Please refer to MI Sheet 33/11 for details regarding changes in VLE funding arrangements: Management Information Sheet Search . Google Apps will be used to provide a simple to use, secure and supported VLE for primary/special schools. The requirements for integration and single sign-on will be addressed

The Web Service will create and support a standard Web Site Template that can be easily deployed in schools (which can then manage their own content)

These services will be underpinned by a Service Catalogue which describes each service and the service levels and benefits associated with it. School ICT Service Focus Groups will be established to ensure that the service offering is evolved to ensure it continues to meet school needs

Next steps
The final Project Board meeting will take place on 3rd May 2011 to agree the ICT products and services to be delivered to schools going forward, including transition and supporting governance arrangements.

A further set of school consultation workshops will take place in May to consider more detailed service and product descriptions.

For 2011-12 the services will remain as published in the Services to Schools brochure, delivered by the new ICT Shared Service.