Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is reportplus an online service as we are concerned about the security aspect and the need for a permanent broadband connection? reveal answer...
A. reportplus is not an online program - it actually runs on your PC and can optionally save to your school server.
We choose to provide you with a server based system for three main reasons:
- We can offer much greater functionality, and a faster program.
- You do not have to rely on your broadband connection (which always seems to fail at crucial times)
- Your data remains safely on school equipment and can be backed up to a teacher's PC and the school server.
Online services are NOT safe from hacking.
Q. Will it take staff considerable time and the usual frustrations to change to this system ?
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A. In our experience, because reportplus is so simple and intuitive, teachers generally find it very easy to use. Setup is minimal, and reportplus will import settings and saved statements from most popular report writers.
Q. How long does it take to implement the program and train staff to use
reportplus?
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A. Training will probably require only one brief session, we have included a series of short tutorials for teachers to work through follow .
Q. Before we commit the whole school to this, is there anyway of using the program on a trial basis?
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A. There are two ways you can do this . Either purchase a licence for a limited number of users (minimum 4) or purchase a single user licence.
Q. How easy is it to edit reports?
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A. Reports can be instantly edited on screen. All of the usual editing functions are possible: delete, undo and redo, bold, underline, italic ...etc are available on screen. Quality control is instant with spell checking and pronoun tracking facilities.
Q. Are there any Head Teacher comments?
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A. Yes. There is a set of general comments for head teachers, and it is simple for Heads to add their own preferred comments.
Q. Can head teachers handwrite comments if they prefer?
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A. Yes, we are keen to point out that reportplus is a very powerful word processing tool in its own right. You can create a blank titled box (or boxes) for handwritten comments.
Q. Will a computer program inevitably produce "similar" reports for all pupils?
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A. reportplus presents teachers with a variety of different ideas for statement content therefore increasing the diversity of reporting. Teachers may also add statements to the bank over time, thereby developing their own personal set of comments.
Q. What do parents think of this method of reporting?
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A. Schools using reportplus say that most parents either make no comment or actually remark on the improved presentation. We have had no feedback which suggests that reports are considered impersonal or computer generated.
Q. How can you move between computers and work at home?
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A. reportplus allows you to work on a school network and teachers can transfer work between school and home computers.
Q. We have a modern network in school but some of our staff have "older" PC's at home. Would this create problems?
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A. No reportplus runs on any Windows PC with the most recent (free) service pack. It will also run on Apple Macs which have a PC emulator program.
Q. Is this just a program to allow less conscientious teachers to knock out all their reports in one evening?
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A. Not really. It is true that there are considerable time saving advantages, but teachers say the real benefits are that it is a less stressful approach allowing them to focus fully on report content.
Q. What provision is there for Early Years children?
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A. There are separate formats for: - EYFS, KS1 and KS2 with a set of statements to support each section.
Q. Do we have to set the layout for every teacher?
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A. No. There are pre-set layouts for EYFS, KS1 and KS2. However, if you wish the layout to be customised we will do this for no extra charge if requested when ordering. Otherwise you may do this in school, it is a very easy process.
Q. Is it possible to add individual report sections rather than having to produce a full report at each session?
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A. Yes. Many teachers write all of their Literacy sections, for example, before finishing off each individual report. There is a Pupil Manager facility to track the progress of each report.
Q. How do you prevent those glaring mistakes that are easy to create with computers, like reports written in the wrong gender, wrong names in the text ...etc?
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A. reportplus can only add the name of the child whose report is being compiled and it also uses "PasteAI" technology which automatically chooses and tracks the correct gender for each statement.
Q. We are a Roman Catholic school. Can we tailor
reportplus for our reporting needs?
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A. Yes. It is easy to make RE the first subject and we have added a set of RC statements based on the "Here I Am" guidelines.
Q. How do we install
reportplus make changes and then share these changes with each teacher?
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A. An administrator can make the changes required then upload the new settings to our system, then each teacher can download the customised settings directly to their PC.
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