Local Authorities may have a responsibility for ‘looked after’ children, those leaving care and resettlement and independent living schemes. These clients may need extra help and support in understanding switchover.

Every TV in schools and other educational and care premises will need to be converted to digital if it is not already capable of receiving digital signals. The Board of Governors will need to decide if they should continue to rely on digital boxes after switchover, or whether to upgrade the building with, for example, a communal TV system. Schools can have access to a wider range of educational resources on digital channels. However, the switch to digital means that people won’t be able to record one digital channel while watching another when using an analogue video recorder, so schools that record educational programmes may need a digital TV recorder. Specialist advice for schools and higher education premises is available in Digital UK’s Property managers’ guide.

Digital UK has developed a digital switchover resource pack for schools aimed at children aged 7-11. Nearer to switchover in your region, schools will have the opportunity to take part in the Schools programme. This programme is applicable to many areas of the curriculum (in all areas of the UK) and has been rated very highly by those who have used it so far. Your schools will be contacted in the lead up to your region’s switchover date to see if they would like to participate.