What is the most important thing about schools and the education system? There are likely to be many different answers to this question depending on whether you are a parent, a teacher, a school governor or indeed a pupil.

There is one thing that virtually everyone will agree on though and that is making sure our schools and nurseries are safe environments. So with safety perhaps the major issue with modern schools what steps can schools take to make sure their school is as safe as possible?

Here are just 5 ways in which schools can use new technology to make sure their staff, pupils and the school is as safe as possible:

CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television)

With over 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK alone (one for every 14 people) this method of security is now common place. CCTV is used for a wide variety of things but for schools the use of CCTV allows for the monitoring of property and people. There has been much debate over the effectiveness of CCTV as a means of crime prevention but capturing criminal or anti-social behaviour both inside and outside of schools can certainly lead to action being taken against the culprits and also hopefully reduce the likelihood of it even happening in the first place.

Security Lighting

As the dark winter nights are now upon us and with children and teachers often starting and ending school in darkness (or dusk) then having adequate lighting is very popular. Security lighting can act in 2 ways. Firstly it gives pupils and employees more confidence by providing a well lit and seemingly safe environment. Not only that security lighting may also deter would be criminals and trouble makers.

Intruder Alarms

You are lying in bed fast asleep having a wonderful dream when BANG, a car alarm goes off and interrupts your peaceful sleep. And stays on for what seems like an eternity. It finally gets turned off and you cannot get back to sleep! Sound familiar?

Is so you will know what impact an intruder alarm can have. For schools this is important as depending on the type of alarm you have it can alert other teachers, school workers, school children and/or the Police.

The result hopefully being that whatever caused the alarm to be activated, stops. And you, your school and your staff and pupils are safe.

Access Control Panels

These can be used by schools to prevent access to the building or to specific areas within the school. They can be used to make staff feel safer and to prevent unwanted visitors to certain areas.

Two Way Radio

The mobile phone has meant it is easier than ever to stay in touch but mobile phones suffer from cost issues and lack of coverage which means they aren’t used by schools. The good news for schools is that modern Two Way Radio allows employees (from teachers to ground staff) to stay in touch wherever they are for just the cost of the actual handset. No ongoing costs and a fast and highly effective way to stay in touch both within the school and on field trips make Two Way Radio a must for any school with a focus on security and safety.

Make sure your School, your staff and your pupils are secure and safe and make sure modern technology works for you.

Bible stories for kids have become an indispensable tool for teaching young children important lessons they should apply to their daily lives. Since it is often hard for children and young adults to grasp the full meaning of daily or weekly Bible readings, a kids bible can be used to help boil down the critical information. Enabling children to more easily internalize the teachings of Christ and continue to grow in their faith as they grow themselves are some of the reasons parents have for sharing bible stories for kids with their families.

If your church offers catechism classes or special services for children, your kids may have already heard many children’s versions of the most well known Bible stories and passages. If not, then it is up to you to start sharing these stories and lessons with them yourself. Until recent years, the most popular methods have been to read to the children’s stories at bedtime or even recount the Bible stories from memory. Today, there are several more options you can choose from, including audio Bibles, Bibles on CD and even MP3 Bibles.

Although you may have never thought about it, a children’s audio Bible is an excellent and very easy way for your kids to hear all the wonderful stories brought to us from the Old and New Testament. You can play a Bible on CD for your children as a fun activity during the day, or play a kid’s Bible as a way to relax them before bedtime. There are many parents who even begin teaching their children to read by playing an audio Bible while following along with them in a printed version.

If you have children that use the computer or MP3 players to listen to their music, you can buy MP3 Bibles that they can load onto their PC or iPod. If they have an iPod or MP3 player, they can listen to the Bible while they are walking to school or taking the bus. They could also listen to it on headphones while doing their daily chores or winding down for the night. If your child loves to play on the computer, there are many free audio Bible downloads and games you can get online that they can listen to and play with whenever they would like.

With so many new ways to integrate children’s Bible stories into your children’s lives, the hardest decision will be picking the methods that work the best for your child’s capabilities and needs. No matter what you choose, you will be enriching your child’s life with the lessons that matter most.