Purpose: Important Information about contacting the Helpline

Audience: All Cambridgeshire School staff

The ICT Helpline at Godmanchester will be closed all day on Wednesday 30th May 2007 for essential training.

If you wish to contact the Helpline during that day, please leave a message on the telephone or email ict.helpline@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. These will be monitored throughout the day.

During the half term holiday the Helpline will have a skeleton staff due to staff leave. As you no doubt realise, we try to avoid taking holidays during term time and we appreciate your patience on these occasions.

Attention Managed Service Schools

Purpose: Important Information about system downtime

Audience: Staff in schools subscribing to the Managed ICT Service

Please be aware that there will be downtime to your Managed Services between 0800 hours on Saturday 26th May and 1800 hours on Sunday 3rd June 2007.

It is possible however that, if everything runs smoothly, you will be able to access your Managed Services sooner. The downtime is necessary to enable essential updates and maintenance of the system to be carried out.

Important invoicing information for Bank Account Schools

Purpose: Ability to pay by instalments

Audience: Headteacher - Bank Account Schools

We are now able to offer Bank Account Schools the choice of paying their Service Level Agreement charges for 2007-08 by 6 equal monthly instalments.

If you would like to take advantage of this facility, please email: ict.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by Friday 15th June.

E-safety CD-ROM for Parents now updated and FREE!

Purpose: Free CD-ROM available

Audience: Headteachers and ICT Subject Leaders

As part of the DfES 'Computers for Pupils' initiative launched last autumn, Childnet produced a special 'Know IT All for Parents' CD-ROM. Now, Childnet (working with DfES) have updated this resource and from 16th May all maintained schools in England (both primary and secondary) can order bulk quantities of this CD-ROM free of charge from the DfES publications unit. In addition Childnet has uploaded all the content onto the Childnet site at: www.childnet-int.org/kia

Click here for more information

EducationCity - Free Software Trial

Purpose: Free software opportunity

Audience: ICT Subject Leaders in Primary & Nursery Schools

EducationCity has offered an extended free trial of their online teaching and learning resource (EducationCity.com) to every school in the E2BN Regional Broadband Consortium. EducationCity.com contains a suite of curriculum mapped activities to be used on interactive whiteboards or in an ICT suite, as a lesson starter or to reinforce learning objectives. It covers Maths, English and Science from the Foundation Stage through to Year 7 and French, Spanish and German modules are also available.

The free access period runs until 25th June 2007. Schools should receive an email and mailer from EducationCity with a Login Name and Password, a Feature Password, and instructions on how to use the resource.

For more details, go to: ID 3666

Safety of Wireless Networks

Purpose: To share Government guidance

Audience: Headteachers and ICT Managers

Some concerns have been expressed recently about the use of wireless networks in schools and Monday night's Panorama programme on BBC television may increase levels of anxiety. A number of Cambridgeshire schools have these installations as part of their ICT infrastructure.

The County Council has checked the latest government advice on this subject, which can be found on the Health Protection Agency website:http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/wifi.htm

The HPA state: On the basis of current scientific information WiFi equipment satisfies international WiFi equipment satisfies international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and therefore no reason why schools and others should not use WiFi equipment.

Becta, the government agency responsible for ICT in education, also refer to the HPA guidance in response to questions about the safety of wireless networks.

Curriculum Newsletter for Primary, Special & Nursery Schools

Purpose: Information about the latest issue

Audience: Headteacher and ICT Coordinator

The May 2007 issue of the Curriculum Team Newsletter has been distributed to ICT coordinators.

Please use this link to download: May 2007

HelpLines Newsletter

Purpose: Information about the latest issue

Audience: All School staff

The May issue of HelpLines has now been sent out to schools via the courier bag.

You can download an electronic version here: May 2007

ICT Service Training Courses

Please click on the link below for information on all ICT Training Courses. Look out for new courses scheduled for 2006-07.

Your school should have a copy of the Cambridgeshire Education ICT Service Training Course Programme, which will give you full details of courses available at Godmanchester and other venues. If you require a further copy for your staff room, please contact ict.courses@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or tel: 01480 376670.

ICT Training Course Information