The Driving Seat has some of the child data, and a lot of buttons and other controls which provide access to other data relating to the case.

Of special importance is the Progress button. The user clicks it to work on the case.

Other buttons provide access to a Front Sheet for the paper file, access to data from other PIMS modules, and summaries of information about this case. Convenience buttons giving direct access to particular screens such as Alarms, Emails and Resources are at the top right. Each driving seat is configured to YOUR needs - as are the underlying databases. We provide the DfES compliant basics, and you can add more.

Every module has its own driving seat. Some are quite simple - but the SEN driving seat is quite full of data. It is really a matter of taste - as more data can be displayed by placing a button on the screen, and accessing the data that way instead of having it on view the whole time.

Note the letter printing and editing buttons.

The system creates a Word document - the letter - opens it in Word if you click the edit button. The letters have the address and other details already filled out using a template (which you control).

You can have as many letter templates as you like - each 'letter bar' is linked to one of them.

The Next Step button takes you onwards in the process. Where you end up depends on what data you enter - the process changes according to what data has been entered. You can have as many screens as you want. Each screen is custom designed to fit your process - letters, additional information, alarms and instructions to users appear on these pages. If you have not done all the work required on this screen, you are told! Making mistakes is much harder!

Your entire process becomes documented automatically. Users get help about what to do by clicking the Step Info button.

An automatic record of the steps the case went through is generated.

The idea is that it does NOT.

People using this system will soon see the benefits they get by using it. Here is a short list:

• Never having to type an address in a letter about a child or school again
• Knowing you can be sure you sent letters
• Knowing where every case is in the process, and what needs doing next

Most of the useful data is generated simply by using the system. You do not have to type any more in than you would anyway - either as a date for a meeting into a letter, or the same date into the workflow - but ate least the workflow remembers the date, and its significance for as long as necessary!