Tender success as Magna become approved contractor to schools
Warwickshire based Magna IM has been appointed by Crescent Purchasing Consortium to become an approved contractor of maintenance work to schools across the West Midlands. The framework provides schools across the UK with access to services from approved contractors for a wide range of maintenance services. Magna IM was added to the framework following a selection process which included demonstration of value for money, local knowledge and previous experience within the sector. Kevin McMullan, Commercial Director said, “Our appointment to the Crescent Purchasing Consortium is another great result for the team and a credit to the hard work they have put in. It is great to see our experience in the sector being recognised and opening more opportunities for us to develop further within the school’s sector. We have built a reputation over many years for delivering a first-class service and value for money to our customers in both the commercial and residential sectors which was acknowledged by the Crescent Purchasing Consortium on our appointment.†The Crescent Purchasing Consortium is a UK wide framework which provides its members with access to suppliers for both planned and responsive maintenance. It covers all electrical, heating, air conditioning, water and ventilation needs that a school may have. Schools have faced a challenging time during the Coronavirus pandemic and many classrooms remain empty as the unprecedented school closures continue. However, whilst schools are closed it presents a perfect opportunity for any works to be carried out and many are using this time wisely, implementing LED motion sensor lighting to reduce the need for touching switches. Magna IM operates in Warwickshire and the West Midlands as well as London and the South East and have been providing full property maintenance services to both commercial and residential customers for over 20 years.
8 year old Kaylie smashes school’s lockdown reading target with animal fundraiser
Renaissance believe that every pupil can be a successful learner and their portfolio of education technology products, from Accelerated Reader to myON news, empower teachers to help their students to reach their full potential. Eight year old Kaylie Bowler, from Perth, is in Year 4 at Goodlyburn Primary School and has used Renaissance’s Accelerated Reader to challenge herself and fundraise during lockdown. Kaylie is a huge animal lover and under normal circumstances can usually be found at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife on the weekend, her family are members of both. To encourage Kaylie and her peers to read on their own during lockdown, Kaylie’s class teacher set a lockdown reading target challenge of reading 25 books, to achieve the ultimate award – a platinumcertificate. The children read their books on Accelerated Reader, Renaissance’s software which helps teachers monitor and track the progress of their pupils. It also gives pupils engaging comprehension activities and quizzes to improve their literacy skills and motivate them to read. Kaylie quickly smashed the highest goal and read 30 books in just one week! Her teacher and mum suggested she set herself a personal challenge, which she did with the aim of reading 100 books before the end of term and fundraising for her two favourite animal organisations. Kaylie was inspired to fundraise for the zoo and wildlife park after seeing that they both needed donations to make sure they had enough food for their animals. Kaylie smashed her personal target and raised over £150 for Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park in just four weeks! Kaylie’s teacher said: “Before lockdown, Kaylie wasn’t one of the most confident readers, but lockdown has really spurred her on and motivated her to read, along with support from her class teacher. Accelerated Reader has been a great tool, especially during these difficult times as we teachers can see tangible results when student’s reading levels improve. Kaylie isn’t only reading all of these books but we can see from the quizzes she completes after reading them that she understands what she’s reading and that the books are at the right level for her. Literacy skills are the foundation that learning across all subjects relies on, so having a firm grasp of them now will support Kaylie in learning across the curriculum. It’s been a delight to watch Kaylie blossom.†Kaylie’s mum said “Kaylie is animal obsessed so when she saw her favourite zoo and wildlife park needed donations, she wanted to do all she could to help. She loved the challenge of reading her books and then completing the quizzes on Accelerated Reader. As the results are instant it helps keep kid focused and really driven to make sure they are paying attention when they read, and asking questions if they don’t understand anything. We’re really proud of her raising over £200 for such good causes and are excited to see what she’s going to challenge herself to do next!â€
Eco-Activists’ Online Streaming Platform Backed By PM’s Father To Be Offered Free For 32,770 Schools Across Britain
The world’s first online streaming platform for Eco-Activists, Ecostreamz (www.ecostreamz.com) backed by PM Boris Johnson’s father, Stanley Johnson, will be offered free for 12 months to 32,770 schools across Britain. Johnson, a keen conservationist, is an Honorary Ambassador of Ecostreamz. The platform embraces viewpoints from both sides of the political spectrum, and has been in talks with organisations from the Ape Alliance to Extinction Rebellion about embracing the platform, hosted on Microsoft Azure, one of the world’s ‘greenest Cloud service providers’. Tensions emerged between PM Boris Johnson and his father, when Stanley Johnson marched with Extinction Rebellion just prior to the election. He joked that he was proud to be a ‘crustie’ after Boris Johnson labelled Extinction Rebellion ‘uncooperative crusties’. SaveMoneyCutCarbon, backed by Lord Robin Russell and Tree Council Chairman Joel Cadbury, who were also the first recipient of investment from Barclays £175 million Sustainable Impact Capital Initiative, is advising Ecostreamz on its educational sponsorship programme. Save Money Cut Carbon who install immunity-protecting LED lights in schools and contactless taps are offering the free 12-month Ecostreamz subscription for each school they convert. Schools can gain Government-backed loans from Salix Finance to adopt ‘COVID-19’ protecting equipment. Careful editorial balance is an absolute prerequisite for Ecostreamz to provide a welcome resource in classrooms for young people who had their eyes open to the dangers of Climate Change by Greta Thunberg and plastic pollution in our oceans, after watching Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2. Ecostreamz is backed by Mya-Rose Craig, 18 years, who blogs as Birdgirl and is President of Black2Nature. She started conservation campaigning ten years ago, becoming the youngest British person to be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science (by Bristol University) at the age of 17 years for her environmental campaigning. Mya-Rose says: “I got involved because I think Ecostreamz is an amazing way to ethically consume media and support the causes you care aboutâ€. Fellow Ecostreamz Ambassador is Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, joined the Ecostreamz Advisory Board. Dr. Goodall says: “Documentaries can change the world and in many cases, they have! With Films like ‘The Cove’, ‘Blackfish’, ‘Blood Lions’ and ‘Stroop’, many wildlife conservation crises have received more attention in the media and the public. Unfortunately, however, the vast majority of independent, issue-related films remain unseen because they are rarely picked up by television networks or theatres. That is why I have agreed to sit on the Advisory Board of Ecostreamz. By creating a streaming video service like Netflix dedicated to global environmental and social justice issues, Ecostreamz will endorse the importance of film in changing public discourse.We are running out of time for many species and their habitats in this planet we share. Ecostreamz provides an important service and I am glad to be a part of it.†Stanley Johnson says: “Britain will emerge from the pandemic with an even greater thirst for a cleaner and greener future. I am very confident that Ecostreamz will lead that charge”. Remarkably, 80% of all paid streaming revenues is returned to charities and filmmakers that provide the content. The project is co-founded by Oregon-based James Branchflower and British conservationist Ian Redmond OBE, the man who introduced Sir David Attenborough to the mountain gorillas for the BBC documentary Life on Earth in 1978 and went on to serve as Envoy for the UN Great Apes Survival Partnership. Ian Redmond OBE says: “Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion both urge the media to ‘tell the truth’ but,†says Redmond, “the mainstream media are reluctant to show documentaries they see as ‘ratings losers’ because they can be difficult to watch. Passionate filmmakers, often working with charities, make powerful educational films about the issues of our day, many of which win awards but then disappear. Ecostreamz is a platform for these important films and supports the causes that are featured. The scheme to provide free school subscriptions is a wonderful opportunity to educate the next generation and link students to the organisations working to solve the problems exposed.” Participating Ecostreamz partners include: Wild and Scenic Film Festival, International Wildlife Film Festival, Social Justice Film Festival, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Ape Alliance, The Borneo Project, International Primate Protection League, Gorilla Foundation, Freeland Foundation, WildAid, African Wildlife Foundation among many others. Some of the featured films currently enjoying high demand on Ecostreamz include: “Blood Lionsâ€, “God in Shacklesâ€, “Tainted Loveâ€, “Stroop†and “Long Gone Wildâ€, among a strong line-up of must-watch critically acclaimed films.
Immersive learning Augmented Reality App “Outside 3D†Launches
A new education Augmented Reality [AR] app, Outside 3D, which brings immersive learning to the mobile phone has launched. Available on Android and iOS, Outside is an education app that provides immersive unforgettable learning experiences in augmented reality. The app combines simplified explanations of subject matters with incredible live animations, high quality audio narrations, interesting fun facts, and background soundtracks curated and programmed for each individual subject in augmented reality. Learning about the piano, the human spinal cord or the moon has never been so simple; using a smartphone, tap the category or subject in the app, find and scan a flat surface to place the experience, to open up the immersive experience, where users can start learning. The app comes with a selection of AR content that can be enjoyed for free and for a monthly subscription of $1.99 per month, users can get unlimited access to all content, categories, games, new weekly content and more. Moving beyond the four walls of a classroom, the Outside 3D team has worked with teachers and education professionals to develop rich, engaging content around subject matters ranging from science and technology, music, art, history and space exploration. Users can come face-to-face with an Angler Fish, and discover details such as their nickname being “Sea Devilsâ€. In the sports section, they’ll find out that footballer Cristiano Ronaldo can jump higher than any basketball player in the NBA [whilst watching him do keepy uppies on the dining room table]. And did you know that some asteroids have their own moons? Users will find out whilst having one rotate on the coffee table. Speaking on building the school of the future, founder and CEO, Toro Orero says, “Most young people love learning but don’t necessarily like the process of education in its current or traditional form. That is why we have created Outside 3D. We believe that knowledge should be experienced and not seen as a chore. Experiential learning is one of the most powerful ways to learn, and Outside 3D brings this power to you by helping you experience what you learn.†In the current climate, where millions of young learners around the world have been forced out of the classroom due to COVID-19 and both teachers and parents are moving online to ensure continuity of education, technology continues to be adopted as a primary resource for learning remotely. Apps like Outside 3D are well positioned to complement the existing learning processes, through AR, putting the power of knowledge acquisition quite literally in the palm of users’ hands. Outside 3D is innovating in the ever-growing global e-learning market, currently set at $190 billion and expected to grow to $300 billion by 2025. According to a recent study, augmented reality increases general engagement and long term memory retention. Experiential learning is also regarded as one of the most powerful and efficient ways to learn. As part of the launch, the Outside team has built an Augmented Reality game within the app where subscribers can participate in an exciting treasure hunt in a virtual city and win prizes. In addition to the consumer-facing app, Outside 3D is also working with individuals, schools or organizations to develop white label AR immersive content for providing personalized products. Outside 3D is the brainchild of Toro Orero, a Nigerian entrepreneur, who started his career as a games, animation and software designer and developer, before he moved into the venture capital space, working as a Managing Partner of DDF, a Silicon Valley seed fund for African startups. Toro concludes, “Education and the learning process has always been a passion of mine and with Outside 3D, I’m combining this with my love of technology and product building. With the current global pandemic situation, now is a good time for education providers and parents to explore and adopt new ways of keeping young people engaged and hungry to know more about the world in which they liveâ€.
Half of UK parents uncomfortable with children returning to school after COVID-19 lockdown
Half of UK parents do not feel comfortable about their children returning to school following lockdown, according to early results from a new study asking parents and carers about their children’s mental health through the COVID-19 crisis. More than 10,000 parents have now taken part in the Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents, and Children in Epidemics) survey led by experts at the University of Oxford. Parents, completing the survey since the Government announced the phased return of schools, were asked how they feel about their children returning to school. Notably, parents from lower income households and those not working felt less comfortable than those with higher incomes or those who were employed. There were particular concerns for parents of children with special education needs and/or neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, that their child will not get the emotional, behavioural and educational support that they need, or the support they need with transitions to different groups, classes or schools. Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health, said, ‘Parents will naturally be worried about the safety of their children when they go back to school. For many parents and children, especially the most disadvantaged, anxieties that have built up over recent weeks will make the return to school a very worrying time. It’s therefore vital that all schools are fully and properly prepared to create a sense of safety when children return. Children’s mental health cannot be left to chance.’ Parents and carers are concerned about the practicalities of children returning to school, such as managing social distancing, as well as their children, or them, catching or transmitting COVID-19. Only a minority of children and young people are perceived by their parents to not feel comfortable attending school. Parents perceive their children to be most concerned about things being different or uncertain and the enjoyable aspects of school not happening. Other worries relate to friendships and social distancing. While primary school aged children appear to be concerned about being away from home and transitions, secondary school aged children appear to be more concerned about catching COVID-19 and academic pressures. Parents of children with special education needs and/or neurodevelopmental disorders highlighted particular concerns around their children getting sufficient emotional, behavioural and educational support, around support around transitions to new schools or classes. These parents, along with those of children with a pre-existing mental health difficulties, report that their children are particularly concerned about things being uncertain or different, changes to routine, the enjoyable parts of school not happening, and being away from home. Professor Tamsin Ford, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the University of Cambridge, said, ‘It is really important to understand the concerns of parents about their children going back to school so that schools and local services can best support families, and Co-SPACE provides some really useful data about this. The impact of the lockdown will vary according to the home and school circumstances of the child, as well as their age, as will the support needed. Co-SPACE provides important information about which groups might need additional support such as children with special educational needs or disability, mental health difficulties and neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism. Children with these conditions may find going back to school particularly difficult.’ The Co-SPACE (COVID-19 Supporting Parents, Adolescents, and Children in Epidemics) survey is still open and looking for parents and carers to share their experiences www.cospaceoxford.com/survey. This research is tracking children and young people’s mental health throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Survey results are helping researchers identify what protects children and young people from deteriorating mental health, over time, and at particular stress points, and how this may vary according to child and family characteristics. This will help to identify what advice, support and help parents would find most useful. This research is supported through UKRI Covid-19 funding, and by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, the Oxford and Thames Valley NIHR Applied Research Consortium and the UKRI Emerging Minds Network Plus.
Employer confidence slowly picks up in education industry, as jobs and applications rise
The latest job market data from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, reveals that employer confidence started to pick back up in the education industry last month as lockdown restrictions eased, with job vacancies rising by 18.7% month-on-month. The study looks at job market data throughout May and compares this with figures from the previous month (April 2020) and year (May 2019), to build an understanding of how the UK labour market is really fairing right now. It reveals that applications for jobs in the education sector also rose by an impressive 35.7% month-on-month. However, when looking at year-on-year data, the findings show that job vacancies are still 38.2% lower than a year ago, while applications to these roles are also down 10.1% year-on-year. Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments: “As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, the market is starting to show signs of recovery and it’s promising to see job numbers picking back up. However, there’s still a long way to go and we cannot expect figures to return to normal overnight, especially when businesses are under a lot of financial pressure.†Alongside the above, CV-Library’s data shows that competition for education jobs is intensifying. In fact, when looking at the amount of applications per vacancy, this figure has risen by 45.3% year-on-year (6.26 apps per vacancy in May 2020 compared to 4.31 in May 2019). Biggins continues: “The fact that there are less jobs being advertised than normal, and more professionals entering the job market, means competition for jobs is already beginning to intensify. This will put employers in a favourable position as the labour market continues to shift, but it’s important for companies across the industry to think seriously about their recruitment and retention efforts; especially when the furlough scheme does eventually come to an end.â€
Get ready for the relaxation of restrictions with Tillr’s Post-Lockdown Recovery Toolkit
It is acutely ironic that 2020, a number associated with complete clarity of vision, is a year of unmatched confusion when it comes to looking into the future. Given the unprecedented nature and scope of the restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, nobody can claim any expertise in knowing what happens next. However, it can be stated with certainty that the organisational and logistical challenges associated with the relaxation of lockdown will be enormous. Local government will be faced with a fiendishly difficult task in overseeing and implementing measures introduced by Whitehall. Increasing numbers of local authorities have turned in recent years to Tillr, the developer of a software platform that facilitates the rapid digitalisation of operational and regulatory procedures. Councils have been asking with some urgency for content related to Covid-19 to be added to their Tillr accounts. They need help protecting their staff, the public and local businesses. Tillr has responded with a Post-Lockdown Recovery Toolkit, which will help with the creation and maintenance of Covid-secure workplaces, open spaces and local amenities. A nation is looking for answers – at Tillr, we believe we are in prime position to deliver one. Tillr: A story of innovation and excellence In the five years since Tillr was founded in 2015, our eponymous platform has become a trusted and reliable name in the sphere of digitalisation of local authority processes. More than 20 councils across London and the South-East have turned to Tillr to save time and money by digitalisingtheir operations in areas such as sports and leisure, waste management, parks and open spaces and highways. The immediate result of working with Tillr is a reduction in administrative tasks, followed by a gradual improvement in the way a client understands its own data through enhanced analytics. Key to Tillr’s growth has been the way we position ourselves as a partner rather than simply a service provider. Our six-strong team works closely with clients to ensure the platform meets their requirements. Every client is different – and the platform is designed to be highly configurable to cater for the particular circumstances of each organisation and the use they wish to put it to. An asset that’s fast to install and roll out The flexibility of the Tillr platform will be a crucial facet of the Post-Lockdown Recovery Toolkit. Each local authority will face varying challenges when the time comes to implement and monitor activities after restrictions on people’s movement are relaxed. Our toolkit contains templates that will help with areas such as social distancing, the unauthorised opening of premises and the implementation of policies relating to new rules governing locations such as shops and restaurants. Speed is key. This is an asset that can be delivered quickly – and updated fast too. If an announcement in Westminster changes social distancing parameters at 5pm, that will be reflected in our service by 9am the following day. The toolkit has already been used to good effect. One London borough was concerned about breaches of social distancing guidelines in its parks and decided to start monitoring. We added a template to its Tillr account within 24 hours of receiving the request so that the council could record instances of breaches. We know there will be considerable interest in this product across the public sector. We have had discussions with the Mayor of London’s office, the Greater London Authority and several boroughs in the capital, as well as Sussex Police. Free of charge to existing customers Tillr does not see this asset as an opportunity to exploit the desperation for solutions in the post-Covid world. We want to make it as easy as possible for local authorities to access the toolkit and trial it. We believe there will be a strong response from the public sector, so we are making is available quickly and on a non-profit basis. Indeed, existing council customers – more than 20 bodies across the South-East – will be offered the toolkit completely free for 12 months, provided they agree in advance to contribute to the content on the platform. Variations to help related sectors Tillr is already actively preparing to develop a separate version for police forces, whose requirements will be different to those of councils. We are in discussions already with Sussex Police, one of two forces who already take advantage of the Tillr platform. After that, we believe there could be yet another version for educational establishments such as schools and nurseries, where the application of social distancing restrictions will be particularly challenging. It is also possible that the toolkit will become available to the private sector, where there will be post-lockdown issues for businesses such as restaurants, pubs and those in the events industry. Contact us today to access the toolkit We are in discussions with existing clients already. But for those new to Tillr, the best way to register your interest is to contact us on hello@tillr.io or via our website. We suggest getting in touch as early as possible so that you can be ready to implement and monitor post-lockdown restrictions as soon as they are in place. Get ready for the relaxation of restrictions with Tillr’s Post-Lockdown Recovery ToolkitGet ready for the relaxation of restrictions with Tillr’s Post-Lockdown Recovery Toolkit
New visusafe stencil kit has the markings of an effective aid for schools in COVID-19 fight
Improved management of social distancing in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic is provided by a new floor stencil kit from visual communication solutions specialist Beaverswood. Part of the Visusafe Personal Protection range, the stencil kit can be used to quickly mark out two metre spaces on the floor and other eye-catching public information messages to ensure people are kept safe and secure and that strict social distancing is observed. Suitable for external areas outside where people queue, the kit comes in four different 400mm x 500mm stencil options, which instruct people to stay two metres apart, keep their distance, or indicate where they should stand when queuing. A ruler, two cans of highly visible line marker paint (either yellow, red or white) and a hand held applicator, are also included in the kit. The new social distance stencil kit is part of the Visusafe Personal Protection range, which is manufactured from good quality, high performance materials, helping organisations to comply with Public Health England guidelines, which ensure materials are as robust as possible and cleanable, providing maximum protection. Jim Roberts, product manager at Beaverswood, said: “During the COVID-19, it’s critical to ensure people are effectively protected in the workplace, staying safe and minimising the spread of the virus. Our new stencil kit is part of a package of measures that does that, providing a fast, easy to use and cost effective solution.” More at www.beaverswood.co.uk or tel; 0118 979 6096 or sales@beaverswood.co.uk
Forum issues new safety guide for apprentices preparing to return to college
As Scotland’s colleges and training centres discuss reopening, the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has helped develop a new set of guidelines designed to keep staff and apprentices safe. Compiled by Forum members the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), SELECT and SNIPEF, the presentation outlines practical day-to-day measures that colleges and apprentices can take to protect against COVID-19 when studies resume. Its overarching principles are protecting the vulnerable, keeping contact lists updated, providing staff with relevant training, offering suitable facilities for hand washing etc, and ensuring that physical distancing is properly policed. Other measures in the downloadable PowerPoint, entitled Lessons to be Learned, include: Face coverings – ensuring apprentices cover their faces in enclosed places where it is difficult to keep 2m away from others. This covering can be made of cloth or other textile through which people can breathe, e.g. a scarf. Travel to college – physical distancing is advised when travelling in vehicles to and from college, with single occupancy of vehicles being preferable. If this is not possible, apprentices should sit as far apart as the vehicle allows. Tools, equipment and plant – all tools and equipment should be properly sanitised as frequently as possible to prevent cross-contamination, with cleaning materials provided. Only one person should use the same equipment and plant. Toilet facilities – restrict the number of people using toilets at any one time and ensure a physical distance of 2m is maintained. Ensure visual hand washing guides are clearly visible and enhance the cleaning regime, particularly door handles, locks and flush handles. Canteens and eating arrangements – apprentices and students should be encouraged to bring a packed lunch and flask, break times should be staggered, everyone should wash their hands before eating and hand sanitiser provided. In addition, diners should sit 2m apart, pre-packed food should only be sold and contactless or card payments used. Corridors – wherever possible, introduce a one-way system on access routes, making clear there is one door in and another door out and marking up walkways to clearly indicate 2m spacing. First aiders – to avoid risk of infection, responders should minimise hand contamination, avoid touching their face and clean their hands frequently. FFP3 or FFP2 masks, gloves, aprons and eye protection should be worn during treatment, with any disposable PPE disposed of afterwards. Cleaning – ensure all frequently-touched objects and surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected. Risk assessments – all documentation for workshops and classrooms should be reviewed before colleges reopen and should align with any relevant Scottish Government guidelines. The guidance also urges college staff to make apprentices aware of cough etiquette and other do’s and don’ts, as well as alerting them to the symptoms of Coronavirus and what to do if they start to display them. It is also says staff should share the guidance with all lecturers and apprentices on a continual basis, with any apprentice not following the rules reported to their training provider for immediate action. The guidance was compiled by Fiona Harper, SELECT’s Director of Employment and Skills and The Secretary of the SJIB, and Barrie McKay, Training and Development Manager at SECTT. Other essential input came from members of the CICV Forum Health & Safety Sub-Group, including Martyn Raine, Technical and Skills Manager at the employers’ federation SNIPEF. Fiona said: “With ongoing discussions about the resumption of studies, we are all obviously keen that apprentice safety is put firmly at the forefront. “These recommendations are designed to be practical and easy to follow, with clear guidance on how to protect both apprentices and the college facilities themselves from the ongoing thereat of Coronavirus.†To help spread the message even wider, the presentation is being adapted into an animation that will be shared on social media and websites, encouraging apprentices to stay safe during their studies. Fiona added: “In everything we’re doing, the message is clear: We must work together to stop this virus, safeguard the young people in our industry and protect our wider communities and families.†Download the guidance from www.cicvforum.co.uk/downloads