School Suppliers Directory Blog

At The Education Show 2010, Texthelp Systems (stand F68) is showcasing Schools Access Software Suite; a specially developed assistive technology package designed to provide continuity of support and access for learning for students. Already supporting over 270,000 students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Government’s Home Access scheme, Texthelp is now extending this provision to schools and local authorities to help all students become motivated, independent learners. The bundle includes Texthelp’s award-winning Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, MindView mind-mapping and iZoom screen magnification tools.

Visitors to the show can also check out Texthelp’s (www.texthelp.com) Fluency Tutor tool; new online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners, and the latest version of Read&Write GOLD for Schools.

Designed to help increase engagement and self-sufficiency for learning, Schools Access Software Suite will help SEN learners to develop their creativity and achieve their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom. A major element of the package; Texthelp’s Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, has been designed specifically to address the needs of students with reading and writing difficulties. The software works discreetly in the background on all mainstream Windows applications to assist pupils with their reading, writing and research.

Read&Write GOLD for Schools’ text-to-speech functionality improves comprehension levels and access to the curriculum for students and contains features such as spelling support, a talking dictionary, word prediction, study skills, a translator tool and a fact-mapper that enables users to produce a visual representation of ideas. It encourages independent and inclusive learning while helping all pupils achieve greater access to the curriculum and improves access to Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Digital Exams.

MindView is a visual study aid tool based on mind-mapping theory that assists students with the research, organisation and planning of projects across the curriculum. MindView’s different layouts allow students of all levels to personalise how they structure information to enhance creativity, clarify thinking and improve memory. The tool’s strong integration with MS Office means that mind maps can be converted to an outline in Word or a PowerPoint presentation with a simple mouse click.

iZoom is an easy-to-use screen magnification and reading package integrated into a single application. Students with a visual impairment can use the tool to enlarge and enhance the appearance of the computer screen to read emails, web pages, word documents, course materials, exams and more.

Texthelp will also be showcasing the new Fluency Tutor tool, the latest online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners. Children as young as five years old can log-on to Fluency Tutor at school or at home and practise their reading. The tool enables learners to listen to passages being read aloud before they record themselves reading and submit assessments to their teacher for marking. Feedback is provided to the pupil through a series of easy to understand graphical displays.

Fluency Tutor also benefits teachers through the provision of an innovative method of developing and assessing the oral reading fluency levels of their class. The software allows teachers to select the right text difficulty level of exercises for each pupil and to monitor a reading running record of their progress. Teachers can evaluate the fluency errors made, words correct per minute score and level of prosody (expression of reading) for every pupil.

Fluency Tutor delivers significant fluency gains for students and also facilitates the provision of targeted individualised instruction. The software has been designed to be fun to use and will provide motivation to improve oral reading skills.

For further information please contact Elaine Emerson, Marketing Manager on Tel: 028 9442 8105, Email: fluency@texthelp.com or visit our Website:  www.texthelp.com/fluencytutor

admin Supplier News education show, home access, texthelp, texthelp systems

The shortlist of nominations for the prestigious Education Resource Awards was announced last week by BESA, the School Suppliers trade association.

Among those nominated were a number of School Suppliers Directory listed suppliers, and we wish them the very best of luck.

The Education Resources Awards highlight the quality and diversity of educational products and resources, excellent educational establishments and the most dedicated members of the teaching profession and supplies industry, all working together to encourage the very best in education.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at The National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on Friday 27th March.

Click here to view the shortlist of nominations.

admin Industry News, Supplier News BESA, Education Resource Awards, ERA, School Suppliers awards

RM Logo

School IT supplier RM has today announced trading results in line with expectations in the period from 1 October 2008 to 6 February 2009.

In its interim report, the company stated:

The group had seen no indications of a decrease in spending in its markets. This remains the case and trading is in line with management’s plan in the Group’s three areas of activity.

The company also reported:

RM’s business is seasonal reflecting buying patterns in the schools marketplace, with a large majority of the year’s profit arising in the second half. In addition, the first quarter of the Group’s financial year is the lowest for revenue and order intake. As a consequence of these factors, performance at this stage is not a reliable indicator of the outcome for the full financial year.

This good financial position is a reflection of the dominance of the company within the industry, coupled with the signing of a number of lucrative contracts both in the UK (as part of the BSF programme), and in the US.

The company’s results for the second half of the financial year will make interesting reading and will give a much clearer vision of the future of RM and the industry in general.

admin Supplier News Financial Results, IT Suppliers, RM, School IT, school software

Taking the plunge to exhibit at education trade shows such as BETT can be a big decision for some school suppliers, especially those that aren’t multi-national conglomerates. It can be the make or break of your marketing budget, and trying to work out if it’s the right decision for your company can be a hard one to call.

To give you a bit of a helping hand, away from the hard pressing sales men and women bombarding you with reasons as to why you should exhibit, we’ve asked Sandra from Fantasy Couriers to share her experiences of this year’s event.

Name: Sandra Patterson
Position: Managing Director
Company: Fantasy Couriers

What is it that you do?
It’s an Online Business Simulation Game, set in the Courier Industry so it’s very accessible for all students.  Students start as a “white van man” and then have to grow their business, take on employees, vehicles, premises, even buy out competitors.  It is a web based game, and so can be played from anywhere, and uses a competitive fantasy league environment to keep up the competitiveness and the fun.

Is this your first year exhibiting at BETT?
Yes

What were your overall impressions of the event?
Very well organised, very well marketed, worthwhile and value for money.  We are Scottish based so the costs for us would be higher than most when travel and accommodation etc are all included.

Would you say the event represented good value for money?
We chose London over the Scottish learning Festival (Scottish Equivalent) in SECC, as the space prices were virtually identical, but London has a far larger footfall, and more exhibitors.  A far better event.

What sort of response did you get from potential customers?
Very good, positive feedback, good interest, a large number of enquiries and demo account requests.

Will you be exhibiting again at BETT?
Probably.  As the game has a number of different markets we need to advertise into we just need to make sure that other advertising for the non-school side of our business doesn’t require more funds/attention.

What was the approximate total cost of the event?
We had a total budget of £5k.  Approx £3k of that was the stand & space, other costs were the internet connection, printing, furniture hire, LCD hire, accommodation, food, petrol, parking etc.

What would your top three tips be for anyone planning to exhibit in the future?

1. Comfortable shoes
2. Don’t lose your voice on the first day
3. Buy all of your food from the little Turkish sandwich bar over the road from the main entrance, much cheaper and much friendlier.

For more information on Fantasy Couriers, an Online Business Simulation Game please visit the website: www.fantasycouriers.com

admin Industry News, Supplier News BETT, BETT Show, Education Exhibitions, Education trade show, Exhibiting at BETT, exhibiting at events

ParentPay wins prestigious e-Government award

The London Borough of Croydon Council has won a prestigious e-Government National Award for its ground-breaking project to create cashless schools across Croydon.

Working with ParentPay, the online payment and income management solution for schools, Croydon has delivered a unique, socially inclusive service with ambitious targets including the removal of all dinner money from Croydon schools. During academic year 2008/9 online dinner money collection is expected to climb to in excess of £3.4 million.  The project has increased the safety of Croydon’s school children, vastly reduced time spent on dinner money administration, increased the uptake of both paid and free school meals and removed cash collection vehicles from the busy streets of Croydon.

The e-Government National Awards are the UK’s highest level commendation for the best e-Government and technology-driven services – services which, through innovative online delivery or IT implementation, have positively transformed the lives of citizens, local communities, businesses and stakeholder groups.

ParentPay Chief Executive, Clint Wilson, speaking from the awards ceremony with colleagues from Croydon said, “The project has been a clear winner in creating cashless schools across Croydon and demonstrating measurable advances in cost-effective administration solutions for schools. The positive impact on children’s lives that have resulted from this project cannot be understated. We are delighted that Croydon’s visionary approach and hard work has been recognised at such a high level.”

For more information please click here of visit the ParentPay website www.parentpay.com.

admin Supplier News cashless catering, online school payments, ParentPay, school admin, school administration

Virtual Learning Environments (VLE's)

A report published earlier this week by Ofsted revealed that despite the hype, the take-up of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) across UK schools has been somewhat slow.

The report highlights that VLEs perform best where there are enthusiastic members of staff in the driving seat, but it also comments that only a small percentage of schools & colleges are actually using them at all, and that where they are used they represents only a small percentage of overall learning.

The philosophy behind VLEs is to enable resources, homework, video clips, website links etc, to be made available around the clock to learners on the internet, which they can access from anywhere. This in turn is designed to enhance the learning experience whilst giving schools and colleges the facilities to deliver content in the form of digital media (Powerpoints, videos, podcasts) easily.

One of the findings of the report was that VLEs are still very much in their infancy, and that much further development, training and education is required before they are able to be used to their full potential. Another area which was highlighted was the need for content for all area’s of the curriculum. The report commented:

Over three quarters of those surveyed who had a VLE showed aspects that were good, however none had a VLE that covered every subject area comprehensively.

Although content can be developed by anyone, and many teachers do create exciting and engaing content for VLE’s, there is a real need for school software and content developers to produce quality, value for money content for all subject area’s to really help drive the use of VLE’s forward.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

admin Industry News, Supplier News e-learning, virtual learning, Virtual Learning Environment, VLE content, VLEs

Cambridge University Press - Race to Learn

Race to Learn is an exciting new development from Williams F1 in association with Cambridge University Press.

The easy-to-use interactive DVD-ROM launches in Summer 2009 and will provide real-life contexts for cross-curricular topic-based learning.

For more information, and a chance to win an exclusive visit to Williams F1 HQ, take a test drive at the Cambridge University Press BETT stand G30 or visit our website: www.cambridge.org/racetolearn

admin Supplier News BETT 09, BETT Show, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Race to Learn

Biometric e-Registration Suppliers Touch Registration

School Suppliers Radun have announced the launch of a new biometric version of their already well-known electronic registration system.

The new system, Touch Registration combines the successful, user friendly Sentinel software, which has been used in schools and colleges throughout the UK for over 15 years, with the latest USB fingerprint recognition technology to log pupils in and out and produce comprehensive real-time attendance data. The fingerprint readers plug into the schools existing computers or laptops so there is no expensive and disruptive re-wiring required.

Rob Lewis, Product Manager for Sentinel, commented, “The Sentinel electronic registration system, which interfaces fully with SIMS and CMIS Facility, has been proven to reduce administration time and improve attendance. It produces a wide range of reports, including all required statutory attendance reports, which can be quickly and easily viewed and printed, enabling schools to effectively monitor attendance. The use of fingerprint technology eliminates the need for pupils to carry cards, which can be easily lost or forgotten.”

For further information about Touch Registration, or to arrange a free, no-obligation demonstration visit www.touch-registration.co.uk, email info@touch-registration.co.uk or call 01823 358911.

admin Links, Supplier News biometric registration, fingerprint registration, registration, registration software, school admin software, touch registration