Management Information Sheet
EsiNet becomes Norfolk Schools
Major changes to EsiNet
EsiNet has been changed and re-named
Why? Because we have been listening to you and reading your comments. Launched in 1998 EsiNet was one of the first school focussed websites in the Country. Since then it has grown (over 2,500 pages) to the point where people now have difficulty finding what they want.
What has been done?
Esinet is being split into three:
Information for parents and the public: this has already been transferred to the Norfolk County Council website on www.norfolk.gov.uk.
Information for people working in and for schools: this is now in EsiNet's replacement site at www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk. 'My School' is also available through this site.
On-line Learning resources: these will be in the new web site Norfolk Learn to be launched later this year.
There will be appropriate hyperlinks between all three sites.
What are the main changes?
- To reflect the change in audience, to properly place the new site within the NCC family of sites, to reflect the broader scope of Children's Services and to work alongside Norfolk Learn the new site will be called Norfolk Schools.
- The home page is almost entirely dedicated to helping you find things more easily. Some of the changes are:
- The main left hand navigation is constructed around school activities
- You can save time by working your way through the navigation without clicking through connecting pages using the Quick menu.
- The 'Search' facility now searches Word and PDF files not just the web page
- There are sections that group themes with common links together
- A refreshed e-Courier is available but individual news items will be brought through to the home page as they become available, so they won't sit around until Friday. (These news items can also be taken as RSS feeds for your own web sites).
- A new Norfolk Forums section that allows you or others to set up group on-line discussions.
- The site is now hosted on more powerful servers so you should see an increase in speed.
- There have also been a number of changes behind the scenes that should lead you to getting better quality information.
A more comprehensive list is available from the home page of Norfolk Schools see 'Hot Topics'.
What do I need to do to get the new web site Norfolk Schools?
Do what you currently do to find EsiNet. You will see that you are redirected to Norfolk Schools. When you get there for the first time change your home page (how to do this is on the home page see Useful Links). Add the site to your Favourites (how to do this is on the home page see Hot Topics). When you find pages that you use regularly add these to your Favourites also. The new URL for Norfolk Schools is www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk.
What if I have something to say about the new site?
There are two main ways to let us know what you think:
- You can use the 'Contact Us' button at the top of every page. This link will always be there and we do value and act upon the comments you send to us. So give us your views, let us know if you spot an error or if you think something is missing.
- We have set up a discussion forum within Norfolk Forums on the home page to gather initial feedback on the new site. Please use it to let us know what you think.