Safeguarding IT in UK Schools

Safeguarding your pupils has always been a priority for schools but more recently there is a focus on safeguarding measures to incorporate the schools fast evolving IT / ICT systems covering both external internet usage and internal network use.

How information is accessed:

school devices / BYOD / static or mobile devices

What content is accessible:

block everything? or allow access but track activity so that appropriate action can be taken (disciplinary or educational).

Prevent Duty compliant broadband:

Schools Broadband with built-in Prevent-Duty compliant filtering & reporting.

Monitor & report user activity:

not just online but off-line across the network. Cyberbullying, self-harm & radicalisation isn’t just an internet problem so web filtering may NOT pick up on it - that is where internal network monitoring and reporting (products such as Impero and Policy Central) come in to play to offer reports and instant alerts to your safeguarding officer on unusual activity.

Physical safeguarding mechanisms:

door access security, intercom entry, visitor management & CCTV IP Surveillance.

To discuss your schools IT safeguarding concerns, call NS optimum on 01926 745608 or email info@nsoptimum.co.uk

NS Optimum Competition - WINNER Castle School Cambridge

NS Optimum & Promethean UK partnered for this years BETT education technology show and part of our promotion was a competition for anyone that visited the NS Optimum stand and filled out a competition entry form.
The prize (worth approx. £3,000) included:

• 65" Promethean ActivPanel with full software suite
• Heavy Duty Wall Mount
• Soundbar Audio System
• 3M Cabling Kit
• Full NS Optimum Installation Service
• Onsite Promethean Professional Staff Training

On 5th February we drew a random competition entry and announced the winner - click here to view the draw - and the winner was:

CASTLE SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE

NS Optimum CRB/DBS cleared installation teams carried out the installation on Friday 26th February and were welcomed by a very happy set of staff. The installation went smoothly and the school staff were overjoyed having won the competition and now having this amazing piece of technology to teach with. They sent their thanks to NS Optimum and Promethean UK for the competition.

Congratulations to Castle School for winning the competition - Many thanks to Promethean UK for partnering with us at BETT and for supplying the competitions Promethean ActivPanel interactive LED screen & many thanks to EVERYONE that entered the NS Optimum competition, we had more entries than ever expected and a very successful BETT show.

We look forward to seeing you at next years BETT show. In the meantime you can contact NS Optimum on 01926 880300 or by emailing sales@nsoptimum.co.uk to discuss your schools IT requirements.

Take Care

Windows 10 set to become most widely installed windows ever...

Microsoft and research companies suggest that enterprises such as schools and large businesses are adopting windows 10 quicker than any previous windows operating system.  Many enterprises have started at least some deployment of windows 10 and half will have done so by January 2017. 

The reason for this is that it has the additional capability as required for the latest devices namely touch capability and that it is relatively easy to deploy on a windows 8 enabled network.

Previously Microsoft seem to have forced customers to upgrade with threats about support ending and security flaws in old operating systems whereas enterprises are drawn to windows 10 as they have had experience of t in new personal devices like windows tablets and have found it very easy to use, bug free and easy to install with Microsofts hosted free upgrades so customers are drawn to windows 10 rather than pushed away from previous versions of windows.

Windows 10 "is poised to become the most widely installed version of Windows ever". With pent up demand due to windows 8’s poor reception, tablet demand and a predicted one third of laptops being touch screen in the next 2 years windows 10 is being downloaded at a very high adoption rate (14 million in the first 24 hours at the end of July.

Find out how easy it is to convert your school to a windows 10 network by contacting NS Optimum on 01926 745608 or go to www.nsoptimum.co.uk

See NS Optimum reviews from schools across the UK that use our services and have shared their experience.

Black Friday Week - SMARTboard LED Screen Deals for Schools - £400 off

Black Friday - SMARTboard LED Screen Deals for Schools

Whilst some UK retail outlets are moving away from the idea of Black Friday for various reasons, we are starting to see a LOT of school specific IT products coming in a ridiculously low prices, not only for Black Friday but now for the whole week running up to Black Friday. I'll keep you posted of the latest deals as best I can...

Here's a taster to get started with - all orders must be placed and shipped this week (installations can follow at a later date as required).

• SMART 65” Interactive LED with SMART Notebook  - just £1999 normally £2,499 (SAVE £500 this week)
• SMART 70" Interactive LED with SMART Notebook - just £2699 normally £2,999 (SAVE £300 this week)
• VIVIDTouch 65" Interactive LED – just £1399 normally £1699 (SAVE £300 this week)
• VIVIDTouch 65" Interactive LED with SMART Notebook – just £1599 normally £1899 (SAVE £300 this week)
• BENQ RP 790 79” LED Screen - just £2999– normally £3499 (SAVE £500 this week)
• BENQ RP 790 79” LED Screen with SMART Notebook - just £3199 - normally £3699  (SAVE £500 this week

The price drops are valid for this week only whilst stocks last - orders must be received this week

Please email or call 01926 745608 to get a quotation - screens can simply be delivered to the school or installed as part of a full install package. please ask for pricing and installation options. 

prices above exclude VAT and delivery

Is Windows 10 good for UK schools? We think so…

Is Windows 10 good for UK schools? We think so…

A considerable amount of scepticism surrounding windows 8 and then windows 8.1 resulted in limited take up in schools with it being used primarily as a mobile device operating system due to its touch screen capability. The NS Optimum review of Windows 10 showed that it combines the best of both worlds with touch screen capability for mobile devices and interactive LED screens, with the traditional desktop for fixed school computers. Windows 10 gives a uniform touch and feel across all devices (PC, laptops, tablets and phone) which is clearly a great advantage for children in todays education environment where they're learning on a multitude of different devices.

The license upgrade to Windows 10 is free from genuine copies of windows 7 and 8 and it is included in your Microsoft OVS ES (EES) Desktop agreement if you have one in your school.

Many schools are starting their windows 10 deployment now, which is a much earlier take up than any previous new windows release from Microsoft. This is largely due to it being a stable and significant improvement on the last 3 versions, but also due to the high demand for touch screen technology in schools, an area which has caused much confusion over the past few years as to which touch-screen tablet devices to deploy - iPads, Android or Windows tablets - Whilst other devices have their own benefits, Windows 10 tablets are now fast, capable and most importantly now have a reliable, stable platform to run on. For schools this means they can now have class-sets of tablet devices that can be used in school or away from the network but that can be centrally managed, that can access all network resources and be locked down for pupil use, all of which are problems for non-Windows devices running on a Windows network.

NS Optimum see this as the start of Microsoft being integrated into many other areas of the classroom with OneNote being used with Interactive LED screens which will incorporate the multi-touch facility and bring the collaboration of the classroom into the 21^st century which can reduce many of the problems associated with multiple Interactive technology software platforms.

If you'd like advice on running Windows 10 in your school(s), please contact NS Optimum on the details below. NS Optimum review schools IT systems and can offer advice and full reports on its findings, problems that need to be overcome (such as incompatible hardware) and the best way to move forward with your Windows 10 upgrade and future school IT development.  

NS Optimum Limited

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
Tel - 01926 745608
Email - info@nsoptimum.co.uk

NS Optimum are a provider of IT systems, hardware, software & support to UK schools & colleges

Lenovo B50-80 Core i3 SSD Laptop - JUST £237 (for schools)

For a limited time only, NS Optimum have an amazing offer for schools on the Lenovo B50-80 laptop with SSD drive and Core i3 processor.

£237.00 ex VAT - SAVING £113.00

Upgrade to Windows 10 at no extra cost - or downgrade to Windows 7

Call 01926 745608 or email sales@nsoptimum.co.uk to place your order

Computers for Schools

ROBUST, RELIABLE & FLEXIBLE COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS

NS Optimums range of PC’s are robust, reliable and come in a range of different styles from ultra-small NUC PC's to all-in-one computers, SFF desktops and everything in between.

As part of NS Optimums ongoing commitment to schools & colleges we’ve expanded our range, lowered prices and increased specifications across the board to meet current requirements. NS Optimum computers have recommended specifications for primary schools, secondary schools and for curriculum, staff or admin usage, however all PC's are built to specification so we can provide exactly the specification that you require if you let us know.  

Value for money – As with all NS Optimum school IT solutions, we always aim to offer all-round value for money. for PC hardware these considerations include:

• lower pricing - our PC range is aimed to suit almost every budget whilst not compromising quality.
• long lasting - all NS Optimum PC's are robust to withstand the day to day use and abuse experienced in schools.
• Well supported - NS Optimum computers come with a flexible collect and return warranty. This means that we pay all postage costs for collecting and returning faulty hardware as well as all parts and labour. Our flexible approach also means we can send replacement parts to the school for the technicians to swap if preferred as this increases the turnaround for faulty hardware ensuring the schools always have minimal hardware downtime.

Please click here to view our latest offers and call 01926 745608 or email me to place your order or for a full quotation.