e-Learning Credits (eLCs)
- What are e-Learning Credits?
- How do I get my e-Learning Credits?
- Can I use e-Learning Credits to buy Espresso?
- How much do I have and when do I need to spend them by?
- Funding post 2008
What are e-Learning Credits?
Curriculum Online, the initiative from the DfES began in September 2002 with the release of e-Learning Credits (eLCs) to schools in England.
E-Learning Credits are a category of funds for schools to spend solely on digital learning resources. It is ring-fenced for this purpose.
How do I get my e-Learning Credits?
The funding is distributed to LAs via a ring-fenced Standards Fund Grant: Grant 122. LAs allocate eLCs into individual school budgets.
eLCs are to be spent directly by schools and are apportioned according to the size of a school.
Can I use e-Learning Credits to buy Espresso?
Yes, Espresso is eligible to be purchased using e-Learning Credits.
When you purchase Espresso, you enter into a subscription-based sales contract for an initial term, usually 2 years. After this initial term, you may renew your agreement for additional years – well over 90% of our customers take this option. The contract for the initial term includes an annual subscription fee and additional fees for hardware, training, installation and warranty & maintenance. These fees vary depending upon the relationship Espresso has with your Local Authority.
According to the DfES, you are permitted to spend up to 20% of eLCs on “support materials” in other words, non-digital products and/or services that are designed to support the classroom use of the Product.
What this means is that the following non-digital products/services are also eligible for purchase using e-Learning Credits, as they fall within the 20% spending threshold of your total Espresso sales contract:
- Espresso’s annual INSET Training session
- The cache server required for delivery of the Espresso service to your school
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions, specifically Section 8 for more information on the Caching Server, as it is important to note that the school takes full ownership of the cache after the initial term of the contract when payment in full has been received.
Please also refer to Curriculum Online for further advice and guidance.
How much do I have and when do I need to spend them by?
| Total Amount Across to LEAs |
Issued | Must be committed by |
|---|---|---|
£75m |
April 2006 |
August 2007 |
£50m |
April 2007 |
August 2008 |
The rule of thumb for the £75 million is £1000 per school plus £7 per FTE. (Nursery children count towards your school's FTE).
The rule of thumb for the £50 million is £1000 per school plus £4 per FTE. (Nursery children count towards your school's FTE).
Any school that has not committed their allotment by the closing date will have their funding 'removed', with an option for it to be redistributed to other schools in the relevant LA.
The Government has announced the extension of e-learning credit allocations until August 2008.
This new funding, announced in November 2005, brings the total funds available for Curriculum Online approved products to £200m over the next two years (including schools capital allowance of £75m).
This represents £125m of e-learning credits, in addition to what has been committed until August 2006.
Are Nursery schools eligible?
Yes, Maintained nursery education is eligible for Curriculum Online funding.
Each maintained nursery will be eligible for an allocation of £1000 from their LA plus an amount for each pupil which will be around £5-7. In addition to this, every maintained nursery place in primary schools or independent nurseries will be eligible for the same pupil amount.
Funding post 2008
Espresso recognises that funding streams are changing: 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 are transitional phases for schools, after this schools will be able to produce a 3-year budget. This change will mean that schools will be able to exercise more control over their budgets and prioritise money accordingly.
There will be three Grants that schools can spend going forward:
- Devolved Capital Formula Grant (previously the Capital element of Standards Fund Grant 31a) – This grant can be used to purchase Espresso subscriptions
- Grant 101: School Development Grant (SDG) (This was previously the Revenue element of Standards Fund Grant 31a) – Your SDG can be used to purchase Espresso subscriptions and training
Schools may spend SDG on ‘any purpose to support improvement in teaching and learning leading to higher standards of attainment for the learner. Such improvements include…training in the use of ICT for learning and teaching and ongoing subscription for digital materials.
Taken from ‘Learning, Teaching and Managing with ICT Funding guidance for Schools and LAs 2006-2007’ Dfes
- Grant 122: eLCs Electronic Learning Credits – can be used to purchase Espresso subscriptions (£1,000 per school + £6.59 per pupil per annum)
If you would like any more information on the funding streams please refer to:
‘Learning, Teaching and Managing with ICT, Funding Guidance for Schools and Local Authorities, 2006 – 2007’, DfES.
For further information about e-Learning Credits, please contact us or speak to your LA ICT Advisor.
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