EsiNet Moves On

The Internet is not very old but as it matures and more people make use of it, it is changing. EsiNet was one of the first Local Authority websites and so it too is maturing and ageing, but perhaps more importantly, we are learning all the time about how to use internet technologies to their best.

The most consistent comment we receive about EsiNet is difficulty in finding things i.e. navigation. The main reason for this is that as EsiNet has grown it has tried to address more and more audiences. It is currently seeking to address the needs of schools, governors, parents, the public and the learner. It is able to do this to varying degrees of success, but an audience of this size makes EsiNet large and therefore it is harder to find things. In addition, in its current configuration we are unable to provide some of the more up to date functionality that both facilitates navigation and improves user experience.

There are two further pressures: (1) the increasing use and popularity of the County Council web site www.norfolk.gov.uk. The council promotes this site as the source of information about county council services; it is therefore not surprising that members of the public start here and not in EsiNet for information about schools and other children's services. (2) The amount of web based teaching materials is increasing. Norfolk is a member of E2BN (the East of England Broadband Network) and would like to ensure the wealth of learning resources provided through E2BN and EsiNet are properly integrated and accessible to teachers and learners.

Given these pressures it has been agreed to split EsiNet into 3 and give the contract for its site to a company that can provide improved functionality. This means:

1. The public facing content of EsiNet will be transferred to the County Council website. Where necessary the content will be re-written and/or structured to maximise its value to the public and parents.



2. The learning content will be moved to its own site and integrated with the E2BN learning content.



3. EsiNet will be restructured to create a site for Children's Services professionals including school staff, governors and social care staff. This will be re-housed to a company that can provide improved functionality (Netmedia).

Care will be taken to interlink each of the three sites so all audiences will be able to access all relevant information irrespective of site.

It will take time to achieve these changes but work has already begun. We hope the only impact on EsiNet's current users will be to see improvements as they appear over time. Please keep an eye on EsiNet for news on further changes as they occur.

Your feedback is welcomed and acted upon.