The Dfe have asked us to share this information with pdnet members. It has the potential to be a great opportunity for schools to showcase their work and =experiences of how students with PD can be enabled through the use of technology and AAC .
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><u>EdTech Demonstrator Schools and Colleges Programme</u></b></span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
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<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun">Education Technology (EdTech) has the potential to reduce workload, help generate cost savings, increase accessibility and improve learner outcomes. Whilst some school and colleges have seen these benefits, others tell us they’d like greater support to help consider the place for technology in their context.</span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="normaltextrun">The DfE is providing an exciting opportunity for schools and colleges who are using technology effectively to apply to become technology Demonstrators and to share their experience and help support other providers. This may include, for example, offering support and guidance on the effective use of technology to help reduce teacher workload, help create efficiencies, improve accessibility, and ultimately support excellent teaching and learning. Publicly funded schools and providers of 16-19 study programmes who meet the required inspection and performance criteria will be eligible to apply. </span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
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<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun">The successful Demonstrators will receive between £75,000 and £150,000 in grant funding to support the delivery of this programme. Applications from consortiums of schools or colleges are welcome, but the lead bidder must satisfy the minimum criteria as set out in the Expression of Interest.</span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
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<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun">For further detail and information on how to apply, and which schools and providers of 16-19 study programmes are eligible, please visit <u><span style="color: black;"> https://www.gov.uk/guidance/edtech-demonstrator-schools-and-colleges-programme </span></u> <i>[please note that this link can be accessed from Friday 11</i></span><span class="normaltextrun"><i><sup><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">th</span></sup> October</i></span><span class="contextualspellingandgrammarerror"><i>]</i> .</span><span class="normaltextrun"> Applications for the Demonstrator selection exercise will run from 11th October to 22nd November. </span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="eop"> </span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="normaltextrun">The DfE will host two Skype Q&A sessions on <u><span style="color: black;">6</span></u></span><span class="normaltextrun"><u><sup><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black;">th</span></sup><span style="color: black;"> November</span></u> and <u><span style="color: black;">7th November</span></u> to answer any questions your network may have (please click on the dates to register) but if you have any questions in the meantime please contact the DfE team at <u><span style="color: black;">@education.gov.uk">EdTech.TEAM@education.gov.uk</span></u>.</span><span class="eop"> </span></p>
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