Vital Help and Support
Portals
What are Vital Portals?
A Vital Portal is a place for educators to find up to date advice on teaching and learning resources for specific subjects or special interest area. They are maintained by subject specialists, well known experts in their own fields, helping to keep you up to date in the classroom.
How can I access the Portals?
There are two ways to access the Portals.
The In-house Professional Development Partnership includes subscription codes allowing access to three portals for individual members of staff. You may wish to speak to your CPD coordinator or a member of your senior leadership team
Individuals can access any three portals for 30 days free of charge by registering for Vital. After the 30 day trial has ended, a full subscription can be bought for a small charge.
What Portals are available?
We are adding new Portals all the time. Please visit the Portals page for an up to date list.
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In-house Professional Development Partnership
What is the In-House Professional Development Partnership?
The partnership, launched in September 2011, is designed to support schools in developing bespoke in-house professional development. It consists of the Vital Professional Programme and staff subscriptions to the subject portals.
What is the Vital Professional Programme?
The Vital Professional is a person in a school or college who leads the Vital In-house Professional Development Partnership for a group of staff. The Programme is structured around the professional, who has access to modules and a range of other support from Vital. You may like to watch this video, Vital Professional Programme: An overview, to find out more.
A module is a short course that usually consists of a webinar, as well as some pre and post-webinar activity. A complete list of the 
modules is available.
How can I find out more about the In-House Professional Development Partnership?
Visit the partnership page for more details and information on how to purchase. If you are in England, you can also contact your local regional manager who will be happy to help you.
We hold regular webinars (web conferences) for senior leaders and deciaion makers, where you have the oppurtunity to ask questions and discuss different aspects of the partnership. Please check our Events page to find the next scheduled session. You should watch this video, Vital In-house Professional Development Partnership: An overview, before attending the webinar.
Webinars
What is a webinar?
A webinar is a video-conferencing session accessed via BlackboardTM Collaborate. Many of the Vital modules and courses are delivered via webinar, as are our popular TeachShares.
How do I set up and use BlackboardTM Collaborate?
Download our Collaborate Setup Guide. Alternatively visit the BlackboardTM Collaborate help pages for more details.
What do I need to know about interacting with others online?
We have put together this useful guide to online etiquette, sometimes called 'netiquette' for those new to webinars.
General issues
Cookies and privacy
Cookies must be enabled in your browser in order to access and use the Vital site. If your web browser is set to refuse cookies, you will not be able to complete a purchase or take advantage of certain features, such as portals. To find out more please read our privacy statement.
Terms and conditions
Access our full terms and conditions.