EdIS Newsletter – Autumn 2024

The EdIS Programme Newsletter contains information on the latest developments in our transformational journey to improve learning experiences for all children in NI through the delivery of digital solutions.

EA Connect has been nominated for ‘Digital Public Service - Innovation of the Year’ at the Digital Leaders 100 (DL100) Awards and received two nominations for the Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards 2024.

The DL100 list is an annual recognition that celebrates the outstanding contributions of teams and individuals who play a crucial role in advancing the UK's Digital Transformation. Please vote for EA Connect in ‘Innovation of the Year’ be following this link - voting now closed.

The Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in the delivery of public sector digital transformation.

EA Connect is shortlisted for the ‘Best Citizen / Customer Experience’ Award as well as being shortlisted in a joint nomination with Version 1 for ‘Best ICT Project of the Year - Education Sector’.

EA’s Student Finance Team is also recognised in the ‘Best ICT Project’ category. Good luck to all nominees for both award ceremonies due to be held this month!

Further development to EA Connect continues to enhance user experience for over 120,000 parents and streamline processes for all schools and EA services

Admissions

• 69,939 total school Admissions complete on EA Connect.
• 181,663 Supporting documents uploaded via EA Connect.

Transport

• 36,044 applications submitted for 2024/25 term.
• 4,921 Primary
• 25,603 Post Primary
• 5,520 Further Education

Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance

• 56,535 FSM applications submitted via EA Connect with 237,053 supporting documents uploaded

SEN Placements

• Confirmation emails are being sent via EA Connect to the parents of pupils that require a SEN placement as well as to schools. As of the end of September, 100% of children with a statement of SEN in transition years have a school place confirmed.

SEN Annual Reviews

• 700 Schools Accessed EA Connect for Annual Reviews
• 2024/25 From the start of term all ARs are mandatory for completion on EA Connect

Please see here under EdIS Spotlight - SEN Annual Reviews | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk)

Over 94% of all Cisco Meraki WiFi Access Points (APs) have been installed in schools who are now benefitting from an unparalleled level of coverage and user capacity compared to what was previously provided into schools over 10 years ago.

This equates to nearly 24,000 WiFi APs across 1,100 schools including Primary, Post Primary, Nursery, SEN and EOTAS and doubles the amount of Access Points which were previously provided into schools. A total of over 25,000 Access Points are planned for installation before the project shortly closes out.

With the finish line in sight, we are well on track to complete the biggest Cisco Meraki Wi-Fi rollout in Europe by the end of November 2024 with one of the last schools being, the newly constructed Elmgrove Primary School situated in East Belfast

100% of all 93 statutory Nursery Schools have now been delivered with a robust ultra-fast broadband to compliment the fully managed IT (LAN) Network installed within each of the nurseries. This is the same hardware and technology which currently resides within every other school across the estate

The same Cisco Meraki Wireless network has also been deployed into all 93 schools and work is underway to support staff in the connection of their Surface Pros, Interactive Touchscreens and Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) for a seamless new wireless experience.

To supplement this new technology, a Print Solution is being developed to allow users to print from a variety of devices using each school’s copier/printer or MFD (Multi Function Device). This solution is currently functional in three Nursery Schools with a full rollout soon to progress.

75% (or 185) of Nursery Units which are integral to a Primary School have now been provided with the new wireless provision and work is underway to find solutions for those that require new cabling connectivity to their parent primary school.

ICT Assistant Director, Colm Daly, and EdIS Senior Project Manager, Carl Jones, attended the recent ‘BT and Cisco Digital Summit’.

AI, security and sustainability were the main presentation and panel session topics; and Carl was also able to connect with BT and Cisco colleagues who have been instrumental in progressing the EdIS Wireless project which started in June 2021 and is due for completion in November 2024. We look forward to continuing that good relationship after the rollout is complete.

We are actively preparing for the migration to the new Bromcom SMS, prioritising the continuity of services and ensuring minimal disruption for all schools.

In the meantime, SIMS and all services currently delivered under the ENni service will continue to operate as normal.

Schools will receive details about the planned pilot rollout and necessary preparation tasks shortly, as progress continues towards finalising Bromcom for use in Northern Ireland.

We would like to thank all the schools who participated in the Digital Learning Environment Design Competition.  

We are delighted with the entries and the shortlisting process has commenced.

The top three entries will be presented to the School Representation Group where a winner will be selected. Shortlisted entrants will be notified via email from the EdIS team.

Colleagues from EdIS/C2k joined EA Chief Executive, Richard Pengelly, Interim Director of Education, Cynthia Currie, senior staff from the Education directorate, and the Department of Education’s Linsey Farrell, at the ICT Excellence Awards in June.

The overall winners were Dromore Central Primary School and Rowandale Integrated Primary School in the ‘Leadership’ category; and Naíscoil agus Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche in partnership with Gaelscoil agus Naíscoil na mBeann, and Bunscoil an Iúir; and St Malachy’s College’s Digital Hub (for the North Belfast Area Learning Community), Belfast Boys Model and Dominican College in the ‘Partnership’ category.

Thank you to Capita for hosting another successful awards ceremony. Watch highlights of the event including short videos on each winning school on the Capita website.

Procurement planning is in progress for replacement solutions for Education Library Management Solution for grant aided schools as well as for the EA Education Library Service.

Education Library Service is undertaking data cleansing and school library data cleansing guidance has been shared with schools.

VG/GMI Finance and Payroll Management Procurement planning is in progress for replacement solutions for:

• Financial Management for VG/GMI Schools
• Student Fee Billing Management for VG schools
• Payroll Management for VG/GMI schools.

At the end of August, EdIS/C2k hosted Digital Skills Week along with training providers Academia (by Apple), Microsoft, Google for Education, Adobe and Just2Easy.

The events, held in W5 and W5 Life, Belfast, as well as the Everglades Hotel, Derry/Londonderry, provided educators the chance to learn from digital specialists, receive hands on training, network with colleagues and gain skills to transform classrooms across NI.

Damian Harvey, Interim Head of C2k, said: “We would like to thank all the training providers for their insightful and engaging sessions, and we look forward to providing more training opportunities over the 2024-25 term.”

Digital Skills Week Feedback

• “Staff arrived at school absolutely buzzing after attending the [Microsoft] training event. They are all reporting that it's the best training they have attended for many years.” SEN school principal, Belfast
• “The entire team felt that it was wonderful and worthwhile staff development. [The Google training] was well organised and in a venue that is motivating and inspiring for staff... a great day for teachers to become enthused and re-energised to engage with ICT.” Primary principal, Co Antrim

The C2k Newsdesk has been shortlisted for the Communication Excellence Award in the Belfast Chamber Awards 2024.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday 18th October at Titanic Belfast. Look out for more details coming soon.

Input from schools is essential to support and shape the new and enhanced EdIS services. If you are interested in joining current or future focus groups or in sharing your feedback and suggestions please register here  EA's EdIS Programme Focus Groups.