In association with, Education Bradford, Softease will be hosting two free ICT twilight seminars on Tuesday 2^nd October at Challenge CLC, Bradford and Tuesday 16^th October at Greenhead CLC, Keighley.  The sessions will be run by independent Educational Consultant, Doug Dickinson.  The sessions will show you how to use Textease Studio CT and Espresso together to get fantastic results for your students!

 Easy to use, Textease Studio CT and Espresso work in harmony together to help create innovative pieces of work using video clips and images.  Our intention is to give you a practical overview of using the most versatile set of educational software tools and to give you some powerful templates to take away with you.

Places are limited, if your within the Education Bradford LEA and would like to attend then email sfletcher@softease.com  to reserve your place.  We look forward to seeing you there!

The new secondary curriculum, which becomes statutory from September 2008, is designed to inspire and challenge all learners and prepare them for the future. Reduced prescription in the curriculum aims to allow for greater flexibility to personalise learning.

 QCA has now launched a new secondary curriculum website which provides a range of support and guidance to help teachers address the new curriculum as a whole, linking subjects, skills and personal development together. It includes the new programmes of study at key stages 3 and 4, and a range of activities, resources and examples of the curriculum in action to help schools develop their own, locally determined curriculum that meets the needs of their learners and communities.

What do you think about the new secondary curriculum? Let us know by leaving your comments here!

We are pleased to announce the introduction of the new Textease PC range; two fully-configured PCs equipped with Textease Studio CT.

Choose from either the RM Ascend PC or the RM One PC, both featuring revolutionary Ecoquiet technology from RM, and you will be able to get off to a flying start without having to worry about software installations and complex technical procedures!

For further details, specifications and prices, visit www.softease.com/texteasepc

In support of the target that all schools will offer full-time, year round childcare by 2010, the DCSF has announced a massive investment of more than £1 billion in the extended schools programme over the next three years.

Schools can provide extended services themselves, or deliver them in partnership with other schools or voluntary and community organisations, before and after the school day. The £1.1 billion will fund capital projects and running costs to ensure that by 2010 all schools can offer extended services to children such as homework clubs, additional sport and music tuition, and clubs for drama and ICT.

This means that some of the funding schools receive for this initiative could be used to bolster schools’ existing ICT provision.

First year allocations of the £1.1 billion are starting to be released to schools and local authorities as part of their General Sure Start Grants and Standards Fund.

What do you think about this initiative? How are you addressing extended schools and ICT?

We are pleased to announce that Textease CT and Textease Spreadsheet CT will soon be available again for Mac users.  This development is in response to customer feedback and will be ready for roll-out during the new school term.  A demo version of the software will be available to view at the Scottish Learning Festival being held at the SECC, Glasgow on the 19th and 20th September.  Come and see us on stand D40.