This Education Survey by Dell found that ICT facilities in schools could be better utilised to help bridge the digital divide and benefit the wider community. Nearly every school, 99%, has PCs and printers and three quarters have broadband access, yet only half, 54%, provide after school access to computers for pupils, and just three out of ten make technology resources available to the local community in the form of community classes and training. Because children only spending about 15% of their time in the classroom, many pupils may be missing out on opportunities that access to technology gives them. The average investment in ICT in a school is over 20,000 pounds per annum and by widening out access to these resources to pupils and the community as a whole, schools could play a vital role in breaking down the digital divide.The survey also found that whilst nearly every teacher has access to a computer at home, 98%, only a third, 35% of them are provided by schools. This is despite the fact, that for many, computers are fundamental to their role, with the majority using computers for lesson planning, 83%, lesson creation, 68%, and assessment 64% respectively.
A special training scheme has begun in Bristol to ensure that all council home care workers can provide for people with a range of mental health problems including depression or dementia. The training is unique in targeting the city council’s Social Services and Health’s whole home care work force to build expertise across the service rather than creating a specialist team.The new Home Care Mental Health Support scheme trains staff to modify their work to respond to people’s mental health needs and to recognise when those needs are changing. Care Workers also get training in responding to challenging behaviour and in how to assess any risks involved in providing help as well as gaining understanding of some of the laws controlling mental health work.
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A new office has been set up to co-ordinate policy standards on the re-use of public sector information, including providing consistent and transparent processes for potential re-users to gain access to the information. The Office of Public Sector Information will be attached to the Cabinet Office and will be under the ministerial control of the Parliamentary Secretary there.The establishment of OPSI comes just two months after the close of a public consultation on the introduction of regulations to implement a European Directive on the re-use of public sector information. The new body has been formed from the resources of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and will have an extended remit to advise on and regulate the operation of the re-use of public sector information. HMSO will continue with its core activities, including responsibility for the publication of legislation and the management of Crown copyright.
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