Technical support
- Article 6 of 15
- EducationInvestor, April 2012
Special education has been an increasingly fruitful area for education tech firms. But funding changes could make life difficult
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The ominpresence of the Internet and the 'cloud' are also making themselves felt in the SEN market. Even if one iPad or laptop is damaged, its settings and software can be restored from the Internet. Accessibility preferences from a home computer can be synchronised with a school computer. Says iansyst's Abi James, "Learners will be able to get access to text documents in an accessible format whenever they need it, wherever they are. Pupils with learning difficulties can now use the assistive technology that they use on their PC across all devices, enabling them to study, prepare documents, send emails or texts, or hear web content read aloud from their smartphone or tablet."
Texthelp's McCusker also points to the benefits of web-based SEN applications. "Cloud technologies are making assistive software accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere, and in a format that reflects the needs of the user. Suppliers must remember that today's learners do not just use a PC. Many pupils are equipped with a wider range of technology than ever before and use PCs, laptops, iPhones and iPads, each for different purposes." However, there are several warning signs for SEN funding and buying, not least in the government Green Paper. There is a move, for example, to 'split off' those with learning difficulties from children with more complex needs, and to reduce funding for the former group. "Cynics say it's an easy way of saving money since if you're not SEN, you need to apply for funding," says BESA's Ray Barker.
The Green Paper also signals a move away from funding SEN needs through statementing towards directly giving families of children with SEN the money to invest as they see fit. This marks the continuation of a more general move by the government away from funding local authorities towards funding schools and individuals. One of the results of that move has been the disappearance of SEN technology experts from local authorities as they leave to run their own consultancies, says Steljes's Rachel Jones. "The route to market is changing."
The result is that SEN co-ordinators in individual schools are becoming the originators of purchasing decisions, something that's reducing the number of big-ticket purchases that could be made through economies of scale across authorities in favour of smaller purchases, she adds. Problematically, NASEN's Lorraine Peterson says that SENCOs' knowledge of technology can be variable. "Some are very IT-savvy. Some bury their heads in the sand." Ali James of iansyst says that the problem can be even deeper in some schools, where even IT-savvy SENCOs have to work through the central ICT department to procure products so need to raise awareness there as well.
With a move to family budgets, SEN companies are also going to have to start marketing in very different ways. If statement funding does shift to families, it should also fan the flames of the apps-market, given there will be a much bigger potential market to sell to. But many families are going to be unaware of SEN technology is available.
Nevertheless, this is still a potential opportunity, says SpaceKraft's Michael Richards. His company is changing its product portfolio in anticipation of the switch to family budgets so that there will be professional and home versions of the products. "When you're marketing to thousands of people, that's a dramatically different proposition. But if parents see the professional item in the school, they might want something similar for the domestic environment." The company also has a new website to target the home market.
The results of the government's consultation on the Green Paper are expected to be announced soon, which should at least reduce the uncertainty that's been causing some schools to pause in their SEN buying over the last year or so. Schools are also looking at purchases that can take advantage of other changes in government spending, such as increases in the Pupil Premium, which will, for example, allow them to invest in products that can help those with below-average reading skills - and children with literacy issues, such as those with dyslexia. But while funding should stay the same as before, even while other school budgets decrease, where and who it goes to could soon be very different propositions, something that companies will need to be poised to take advantage of.
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