Following consultation with schools, the report seeks formal approval of the virtual learning environment (VLE) platform arrangements and signing of the contract with the preferred supplier of the VLE service.

The Cabinet Member ICT, Education and Achievement presented the report Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and advised that full consultation had been carried out with the schools.  Following on from the procurement process a preferred supplier had now been selected to provide a VLE for schools across the county.  This provision would allow schools to meet the requirements for an online learning platform.  Cabinet was informed that the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) had introduced the Harnessing Technology Grant (HTG) scheme, which required 75% of funding to be devolved to schools however; it was proposed that 98% of grant funding be devolved to the schools, with £25k retained for the purchase of central servers.

The Cabinet Member was asked whether the system would be able to interact with the proposed Hereford Connects programme and how secure the system would be for the children to use.  Cabinet was advised that the VLE would be hosted on its own dedicated server with its own firewalls to ensure no outside influence.  It was stated that even when a child used the system from home all use of the system would be monitored.  There would be full training of staff and pupils to ensure everyone was fully aware of the system and it would be fully interactive with all other Council systems.

RESOLVED That the strategy for providing a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for schools be agreed and the contract with the preferred supplier be approved for signature.