Children and young people in Somerset will benefit from a new online learning environment that will allow pupils to access interactive learning resources on the internet, in and out of school.
Somerset County Council has signed a contract with Fronter making the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) available to all schools in Somerset. The VLE is a platform that pupils and teachers can use to share and host learning opportunities and resources needed to help pupils achieve. 
The VLE can be used from any computer with internet access. This allows pupils to access the same information at home and in the classroom. Pupils will be able to communicate with teachers, access video, audio and written learning resources and discuss topics with other pupils outside of school hours.
The VLE will be part of Somerset County Council’s education strategy allowing parents to work in partnership with schools. Parents will be allowed secure access to view their child’s attendance and performance and school events over the internet. 
David Taylor, Somerset County Council’s Director of Children and Young People’s Services, said: “This project has the potential to extent and enrich the learning opportunities that Somerset County Council are able to provide to children and young people in Somerset. The VLE will be available for all primary and secondary schools, and will improve the continuity of education between the two phases.”
Gloria Cawood, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education, added: “The Virtual Learning Environment will be a central information source, that will compliment and extend traditional teaching methods. Children will be able to benefit from tailored learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, helping to raise achievement in schools across the County.”
Bill Gayler, Fronter’s UK Managing Director, commented: “We are excited to have been chosen by Somerset County Council to introduce the Fronter learning platform to the region. Ahead of the government’s guidelines, we feel there is a transformation taking place, and the improvement of education in and outside the classroom through online learning is of monumental benefit to students, teachers and guardians.”
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Alex Bacon, PR and Communications Officer, 01823 358271 or email abacon@Somerset.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
· Roger Larsen is Fronter’s founder and international managing director.
· Fronter was founded in Norway in 1998 and is now used by more than four million users in 9 European countries.
· Fronter is used by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) for their talk2learn platform and work with a large number of UK schools, colleges and local authorities.
· Fronter is a 3rd time winner of the European Seal of E-Excellence in Gold.
· Becta is the Government's lead agency for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom. In March 2007, Becta was given an enhanced remit by the Department for children, schools and families (DCSF) to lead the co-ordination, development and delivery of the government's strategy to harness the power of technology to help improve education, skills and children's services (http://www.becta.org.uk).
· The first Somerset schools will take advantage of using Fronter in March 2008 and implementation for most schools will be phased in over the next twelve months.
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