We hope that the spring 2 term has started off positively for you and your preparations for a full return for all pupils to school on 8th March are going well.
LGfL - Highlights
We are delighted to announce that LGfL has just landed a new deal for
@neverwareto safeguard the existing implementation (one of the biggest deployments in the world) as well as creating a platform for long term growth as part of the NationalGridforLearning. Find out more by visitingneverware.lgfl.net
BridgeTheDivide -LGfL has taken two steps to help schools to save money and progress their remote learning strategy in the weeks and months ahead:-
SECURING ECONOMIES OF SCALE & GREAT PRICES LGfL has placed massive orders on our suppliers, to shield schools from rising device prices in the market.
CERTAINTY OVER DELIVERY: LGfL has ordered several months ahead to ensure that we can guarantee stock and delivery to protect schools from uncertainty.
LGfL will have a significant stock of devices available for March 2021 delivery (anticipated) at the following prices:
Chromebook 100e: £149.99
Chromebook 300e: £184.99
Winbook 100e: £152.99
Winbook 300e: £194.99
THIS REMAINS WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST PRICE in the market. For information visit - devicesupport.lgfl.net
LGfL - DigiSafe
Online Tutors – Keeping children Safe:
As all pupils return back to school, a reminder that many parents will still be continuing with extra tuition to help their children catch up with work. Do share our Online Tutors – Guidance for Parents and Carers flyer to highlight vital safeguarding considerations and practical tips to help select the right tutor and establish clear rules to ensure a safe and productive learning experience. Further guidance and resources to support parents, staff and pupils is available at coronavirus.lgfl.net/safeguarding.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Children are significantly more engaged by content that is animated and cartoon in nature. Adobe Character Animator is just one of the amazing creative applications from Adobe that allows you to produce animated characters that respond to your own facial expression and voice. With ready-made characters to get you started or the ability to import your own characters from Photoshop or Illustrator, Adobe Character Animator helps you easily build engaging content for your students and allows them to express themselves through animation.
How do we get access to Creative Cloud Software for Schools?
All LGfL schools are offered free Adobe licenses; if your school has not claimed their licenses yet, please clickhereto do so.
Audio Network
Audio Network will no longer be part of the LGfL service from the end of the Spring Term 2021. You will not be able to access this service after 31st March 2021. (N.B It will not be possible for schools to buy into the same service as an alternative arrangement directly from Audio Network as the service is not available in any other format). For further information about this service change please email
Just2easy have recently released a brand new help desk, providing all J2e users with a host of help solutions. These include J2e how-to videos, step-by-step guides, activity suggestions and templates, there's something for everyone!
The help tool can be access by clicking on the help tile on your J2e launchpad (click on the image shown below to sign in to j2e and visit the help tile to explore further):
The Just2easy team's J2skills drop-in sessions continue to grow in popularity. If you have any J2e related questions, want to talk to the resident J2e experts, or want to network with other teachers, why not join them? Held virtually every Tuesday 3:40-4:40, book your space here.
They have also started weekly introductory LGfL webinars every Thursday at 3:40-4:10. Designed for LGfL schools not currently using J2e, this short session will give schools a brief overview of what J2e has to offer. (Included in the sessions: Meet the team, setup options, Key Stage specific tool showcase, Q and A's). Book your place via Eventbrite here.
BusyThings
In support of LGfL's ReadingZone Live site, BusyThings have recently added 11 new activities: Design an book jacket, review and character profile projects for 'Wreck of the Zanzibar', 'Lizzie Zipmouth' and 'Pugs of the Frozen North' plus labelling the Scilly Isles and the Turks and Caicos Islands (part of a new islands section in Geography but associated with Wreck of the Zanzibar).
There are also grammar tool updates to the remaining KS1 books.
These will make great activities to support World Book Day on 4th March 2020.
NEW - Teachers can now gather evidence by exporting their class timelines
BusyThings have also added a great new feature enabling teachers to print evidence of their childrens' learning on Busy Things. Teachers using Class setups can now export all the data being gathered in the class and pupil timelines!
Exported timelines can inculde activity information and curriculum links aswell as dates, names and times.
Training - Spring 2 2021
Check out the whole training portalfor online training events which are included in your school's Let's Get Digital subscription and are therefore *free* for LGfL schools staff to attend.
Following the success of the recent online version of “Building an IT Strategy for Schools and MATs”, we will be running another session on Tuesday 4th May.This event is free to current school and Multi Academy Trust senior leaders. During the morning we will explain all the elements required for formulating and delivering a digital strategy in a standalone school or Multi Academy Trust. Book here.
EdTech Demonstrator Programme
The EdTech Demonstrator Programmeis not just for schools and colleges who have signed up to receive bespoke support, but is also a place where schools can access excellent, comprehensive resources created by the demonstrator schools and colleges across the programme.
To hear about stories of impact from those schools and colleges who have received support so far, visit here. This page gathers together some of the feedback from the schools and colleges across England that the EdTech Demonstrator Programme has supported. (Two example videos included below).
Get free peer-to-peer support from our network of EdTech Demonstrator schools and colleges. Click here to register your interest.
