Hi
St John wrote:
We are one of those LEA's that uses their own
> suppliers ... snip
... but is it
> absolutely necessary to promote that supplier in a report that should be
> addressing needs rather than means. snip
I can't see any difference between the LEA recommending suppliers and the Access
Centre doing the same - apart from the fact that the LEA is more likely to be cost driven,
rather than needs driven. The LEA supplier is likely to be the one that provides in bulk
to schools - not necessarily an outfit used to providing for disabled students.
The LEA in question (if I guessed right about the major midlands LEA) also have a
preferred supplier. I always felt that their level of service was poor - return to base
warranty only, as I recall.
Regards
Peter Hill
> St.John Skeates
> Awards Section
> Bedfordshire County Council
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TERRY HART [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 10:35 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]; Skeates,St.John DEAL Awards Tm
> Subject: Re: LEAs and providing equipment
>
>
>
>
> In response to the message left on Disforum by Mick Trott
> From: Michael Trott <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I was interested to read the move by some of the LEA's re getting
> multiple quotes. This LEA was the first I had come across in a very
> long time and we deal with a reasonable amount of LEA's as a major
> Access Centre. I do hope that this is not a growing trend as it is a
> classic waste of our time as assessors and it invariably leaves the
> student with a second rate solution.
>
> Certainly the majority of LEA's in the South West have adopted a
> policy where they order direct from their prefered supplier, thereby
> reducing wasted effort whilst giving an improved service. My
> understanding of the new system that is being introduced is that
> there will be an agreed list of suppliers and only one quote will be
> required, reflecting the sort of trend seen here in the South West.
>
> Whatever method is imposed we need to spend more time providing good
> working solutions than chasing our tails trying to find the bargain
> of the month. As has been said many times before on DISFORUM there is
> more to providing technology than securing a discount system, it is
> essential for the supplier to understand the special needs of the
> disabled user and be able to provide a whole package of
> specialist technology, software and support. The suppliers who give
> the lowest quote either do not survive in business for very long or
> they are in a market place where profit is made by volume sales not
> an overall specialist service. A " NEVER MIND THE QUALITY FEEL THE
> WIDTH" policy is surely one we should all be avoiding if we are
> to give the levels of service required and now expected.
>
> I am now off my soap box and will not write on the subject again,
> unless provoked.
> Terry Hart
>
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Peter Hill
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01527 500324 or 07751 792711
Dyslexia Consultancy and Resources
http://www.study-pro.com
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