Part a) for infrastructure and services to help achieve and where possible exceed the ICT baseline set by the DfEE. This is the NGfL funding delegated to your school this year.

 Part b)  to encourage innovative ICT developments in schools which have already achieved the ICT baseline. Funding some schools can bid for. Guidance is provide in the packs on how to apply for innovative funding.

 Part c) to fund the LEA costs of enabling high speed internet access through regional broadband consortia. Information is included in the pack on current developments in the region on expanding access to the internet. Funding managed by the LEA.

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Further Information
NGfL4 will provide funding for all schools in Northumberland. This funding is intended to build on the developments of years 1 – 3 and to support essential services such as Internet costs and technical support. In previous years the element of the funding for content development has been retained by the LEA, this has been used for a variety of activities including licensing software for schools on a County wide basis, to support the development of the Teaching and Learning website (http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk) and to provide advisory teacher support for schools.

 This year the content funding has been devolved to schools. The sum indicated for NGfL4 for your school is for equipment provision, services such as internet access or technical support and content. Schools need to ensure that they allocate at least 15% of their NGfL funding towards content acquisition or development.

An important aspect of this year’s development will be for schools to consider a range of  strategies for developing their ICT resources. For example, many First schools will find the provision of extra PC’s a problem in itself. Some classrooms are already tight for space and adding extra computer trolleys can cause difficulties. Considering a different approach could help schools expand their provision more effectively. Section D & E in the pack sent to schools provide information on a range of resources which schools should consider, for example, portable laptop computers and whole class projectors similar to the one used in the training centre at Hepscott Park.

The initial NGfL funding provided a basic amount of network cabling around schools. Schools should consider how this might be expanded to include extra classrooms by cabling more rooms  or in some instances wireless networking. As well as the information in the pack, we have planned 3 ‘drop ins’ in Alnwick, Hexham and Hepscott where schools can come along, view some of the resources listed in sections D & E and discuss their development needs. Schools can also contact the ICT team at Hepscott Park to talk through ideas or arrange a school visit.  

Should you wish to make these types of arrangement I hope you will appreciate that all the ICT team are very busy working with schools and are usually ‘booked’ well in advance. With the team either training or working out in schools most of the time, the most effective way to contact us is through e-mail –

icthepscott@northumberland.gov.uk

 Finally, the release of funding to schools is dependent on a number of criteria set out by the DfEE. These include the submission of an up to date ICT development plan to the LEA and information on spending plans and computer resources in schools. Sections F & G contain resources to help schools complete the necessary LEA responses.

 Throughout this pack I have tried to include website links to appropriate information from the DfEE and Becta. On  the LEA Teaching and Learning website I have provided a page which has links to guidance information and ICT development planning resources to download and printout.

The address for this is:

 http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/ngfl

 Please contact the ICT team

 icthepscott@northumberland.gov.uk  should you require further advice or wish to discuss your school ICT developments.

 Yours sincerely

 Richard Taylor

Adviser ICT
For the Director of Education