Alan Day has published his the final draft of the Learning Platform advice and guidance document. One thing is certain, he is expecting it to be updated regularly!
In a nutshell, the Learning Platform is starting to look less like a single product; rather it may be collection of applications linked by a single sign-on. From the spec, I can tell you with certainty that there isn't a single product on the market that fully meets the spec'. AND all of the suppliers are marketing aggressively to schools.
So ... we have local authorities being pressured to 'buy a one size fits all system' (that schools may not want). Schools being told to go out and buy '... something! ... but to keep an eye on what their Local Authority is doing', and a specification that doesn't match either of the above, which means it all may be different in three years time! Oh ... and add to this the fact that Becta won't have the framework contracts in place until probably Feb 2007."
To assist schools, becta have produced an online tool for advisors and headteachers / ICT coordinators to assess their readiness and school needs without resorting to technical language.