Coryton Primary School

Coryton Primary School ICT Policy Statement - 2010

Hanne Reid, ICT Coordinator

INTRODUCTION

ICT is already a feature of everyday life; the children we educate have never known a world without ICT. The right for every child to be encouraged to make the most beneficial use of ICT has never been more apparent.

ICT is Information Communication Technology the National Curriculum subject. It is the teaching and learning of ICT knowledge, skills and understanding. ICT skills are also a National Curriculum common requirement where pupils should be given the opportunities, where appropriate, to develop and apply their ICT skills through their study of other National Curriculum subjects. ICT is therefore, a feature of all areas of the curriculum and plays a significant role in creating a broad and balanced provision, supporting and enriching the pupils’ learning experiences.

ICT is Information and Communication Technology. It is the computing and communications facilities and features used to support the teaching, learning and understanding of other areas of the curriculum. When using ICT to teach another subject, the learning objectives must relate to that particular subject. ICT common requirements skills and ICT opportunities need to be identified in the Schemes of Work of each National Curriculum subject. Planned activities will indicate where the learning objectives of these other subjects are effectively helped and enhanced by the use of computers and other peripherals. Such ICT related activities include, for example, the use of:

· CD-ROMs as sources of information;

· Interactive whiteboards to deliver a lesson;

· E-mail to support collaborative writing;

· Keyboards, effects and sequencers in music teaching;

· Devices to facilitate learning for pupils with special needs.

· Use of the Internet / Search Engines

· Use of Digital Media – Camera’s, Scanners, Web Cams

This document outlines Coryton Primary School’s policy regarding the delivery of Information and Communication Technology. The implementation of this document is the responsibility of the Head-teacher and all teaching staff. The pupils’ entitlement is based upon the need to prepare pupils’ for a world demanding ICT literacy. The National Curriculum in Wales (ACCAC, 2008) outlines the ICT knowledge, understanding and skills needed to be taught and the ICT opportunities to be provided at Key Stages 1 and 2 within the Programme of Study Strands for IT.

AIMS

We, at Coryton Primary School recognise the benefits of ICT for children, staff, parents and governors. We aim to provide a rich and rewarding ICT Curriculum for all our children and one that equips them for the technological demands of everyday life within their own capabilities. We also aim to enable staff to become confident and competent in the use of ICT across the whole school structure.

Each child will be provided with plenty of opportunities to:

· Use a computer, the Internet, e-mail and peripherals, safely and sensibly;

· Use ICT skills in collaborative and independent learning situations;

· Enrich and extend their learning throughout the curriculum, using ICT;

· Develop independent research and discrimination skills when handling data;

· Acquire confidence and pleasure in using ICT;

· Prepare pupils for a world of work requiring ICT literacy and capability;

· Stimulate some interest in new technologies and its effects;

· Engender an enthusiasm for the use of the computer.

OBJECTIVES

The school’s objectives for ICT are to:

· Ensure that all pupils receive their entitlement to ICT within the curriculum;

· Enhance the learning of all pupils through the application of IT across the curriculum;

· Provide access to the National Curriculum (ACCAC 2008) for all pupils in the school;

· Provide access to ICT through all National Curriculum subjects (ACCAC 2008);

· Meet the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum (ACCAC 2008);

· Develop pupils’ confidence and competence in the use of ICT;

· Teach all pupils computer, Internet and E-Safety rules and procedures.

· Prepare pupils for an increasingly technologically based society;

· Enable all pupils to access ICT resources in order to raise their capabilities and standards of achievement;

· Provide a variety of ICT opportunities, experiences and activities, where appropriate, across the curriculum;

· Prepare pupils for the world of work requiring ICT literacy and competency;

· Ensure that all pupils understand and follow the school’s computer, Internet and e-mail safety rules and procedures.

ORGANISATION OF ICT – THE SUBJECT

(a) Teaching and learning

Children will develop their IT knowledge, skills and understanding through undertaking a series of IT topics per year. Each topic will be introduced in a whole class or group scene setting context. This will be followed by opportunities for the children to practise their newly acquired skills in a series of short focused activities. When the children have acquired a repertoire of skills, they will have the opportunities to demonstrate and apply their skills in a variety of ways when they undertake other tasks including the application of skills taught in other NC subjects.

(b) Planning

The ICT Coordinator has produced a skills map, which outlines the ICT topics to be taught for each year group. The ICT Coordinator has also produced detailed and comprehensive ICT medium term plans for each year group. These plans list the ICT learning objectives or skills and knowledge to be taught for each topic as well as teaching and learning methods advice, specific ICT related vocabulary, the resources to be used, National Curriculum 2008 references in terms of the Programmes of Study, cross curricular links and common skills requirements and assessment criteria opportunities.

ORGANISATION OF ICT ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

(a) Teaching and learning

Children will be provided with opportunities to use their ICT skills to support their learning and understanding in subject areas across the curriculum. When using ICT as a learning tool for another curriculum subject the learning objective for that particular subject remains the focus of the lesson. The use of ICT should motivate, stimulate, enhance and make the learning of the objective accessible. ICT can be used as a teaching tool as well as a learning tool. For example with the use of projectors with an interactive white board, an effective use of ICT might be to use a piece of software, CD ROM or website projected for the class to see to introduce a concept or as part of a plenary session. Such an activity is likely to capture interest and motivate the children. Teachers should consider using ICT as a resource as they have done with a poster, book or video in the past.

(b) Planning

It is the responsibility of each individual curriculum coordinator to ensure that ICT opportunities and ICT common requirements skills are provided within their subjects. Schemes of Work and in particular the medium term plans for each curriculum subject will need to highlight what ICT opportunities and ICT common requirement skills will be used, when they should be used to enhance their subject and how they should be used either as a teaching tool or a learning tool. It is the responsibility of each individual class teacher to incorporate ICT opportunities and ICT common requirements skills within their short term / weekly planning sheets.

HARDWARE

The school has a networked system of workstations and one HP Laser printer controlled by a central server, running a network operating system.The role of an operating system is to control the flow of data between the various hardware components in the machine. The server has a multiple role in the network.

· Authenticating username and password combinations;

· Providing a central depository where User Home Folders are located;

· Providing a uniform desktop environment for users.

Each workstation also runs an operating system, Windows XP, and are installed with a range of applications and essential tools. At present, there are eight workstations in the IT Area and other workstations in individual classrooms. This ensures that each year group has equal access to a variety of experiences across the ICT National Curriculum. The school also possesses interactive white boards (Smart Boards) in each class, two scanners and various digital cameras provided in each classroom. It is hoped that in the short term a portable wireless laptop network will be purchased to help deliver the teaching and learning of ICT around the school.

CURRICULUM SUPPORT MATERIALS AND SOFTWARE

The school’s networked workstations are installed with Microsoft Office 2000 and other educational software designed specifically to deliver IT skills at each Key Stage . The workstations have e-mail facilities and allow Internet access through Internet Explorer.

RESOURCES

The school is committed to renewing, replacing and updating hardware and software when funds are allocated and needs identified. It is intended that the existing Service Level Agreement with Whitchurch High School will be renewed annually in order to continue maintenance agreements. The school also has a commitment to working with the LEA’s IT and ICT Support Services (ACCE and EMIS) in addressing any future initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The school is committed to training staff in IT / ICT through in-school support from the IT / ICT Coordinator and from the Advisory team at ACCE. All staff will be given the opportunity to attend relevant centrally based INSET courses, which will enhance their knowledge and capability in IT.

COMMON REQUIREMENTS :

(a) Access for all pupils and equal opportunities

At Coryton Primary School, the teachers have high but realistic expectations for all our children regardless of their race, gender or ability. It is our aim to ensure that each child realises his or her ICT potential, regardless of race, gender or ability. It is the school's policy that the ICT teaching and learning opportunities for all are maximised and that no pupil is denied these opportunities. Please see the school’s policy document on Equal Opportunities.

(b) Access for all pupils and SEN

Children with special educational needs at Coryton Primary School have the same ICT entitlement as any other children. They will be offered the same ICT curriculum, however it may be necessary to provide appropriately differentiated short focused activities and integrated tasks in order to support their IT learning. We also recognise that ICT can assist our SEN children by providing access to learning and support for learning. For example, for children with learning difficulties, ICT can be a focus for language development activities and can make writing more accessible. For children with emotional and behaviour difficulties, ICT is motivating, can make tasks more manageable and is non-judgemental. For children with physical or communication difficulties, ICT may be essential for them to gain access to learning.

(c) Common Requirement Skills

When studying ICT at Coryton Primary School, the teachers will also provide opportunities, where appropriate, for our children to develop and apply the following common requirements:

· Curriculum Cymreig - knowledge & understanding of the cultural, economic,

environmental, historical &linguistic characteristics of Wales.

· Communication Skills - their skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing &

expressing ideas through a variety of media.

· Mathematical Skills - their knowledge &skills of number, shape, space,

measures & handling data.

· Information Technology Skills - their IT skills to obtain, prepare, process &

present information & to communicate ideas with increasing confidence.

· Problem-Solving Skills - their skills of asking appropriate questions, making

predictions & coming to informed decisions.

· Creative Skills - their creative skills, in particular the development &

expression of ideas & imagination.

· Personal and Social Education – the attitudes, values, knowledge &

understanding relating to Personal & Social Education.

E-SAFETY POLICY

The school has an E-Safety policy to protect pupils from on-line access (Internet, e-mail etc.) to undesirable materials. A copy is available for parents to read on the school website. Our children are protected whilst on-line through a filtered and policing service provided by the County. The school’s E-Safety policy and specific computer rules will be known, understood and abided by all pupils, parents, governors and staff.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

It is the responsibility of individual class teachers to look after the computer machinery in their classrooms. Care should be taken to ensure that they are used and stored safely. All equipment should be kept clean and free of dust. Any problems should be reported to the IT / ICT Coordinator as soon as possible by use of the ICT Log Book. Class teachers should also need to ensure that pupils have an understanding of electrical safety issues when using ICT equipment.

ASSESSMENT AND RECORD KEEPING

Assessment will be in line with the whole school policy on assessment. Formative and diagnostic assessments will be carried out informally by teachers when children are carrying out their short focused ICT activities. Whereas more formal summative assessments of the children’s ICT skills, knowledge and understanding can be acquired when they do their end of topic computer diairies or when they apply their ICT skills in another subject. Pupils will be encouraged to evaluate their own use of ICT and its effectiveness in discussion with the class teacher. Children’s ICT work will be regularly gathered by the ICT Coordinator and used to update the school’s portfolio of ICT work.

MONITORING

A process for monitoring is in place, which allows the ICT Coordinator to visit classes, inspect planning documentation and look at the children’s ICT work stored in class ICT files.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(a) Headteacher and Senior Management Team

Headteacher and Senior Management Team are responsible for providing support for the ICT Coordinator in the development of ICT as a subject. They need to ensure that enough time is allocated to ICT when planning for INSET and staff meetings and that adequate resources are targeted to ensure the ICT stock is fit for its purpose.

(b) ICT Coordinator

ICT Coordinator will need to:

· Monitor the requirements of the Curriculum 2008 with regards to ICT.

· Support the whole staff in the development of appropriate perspectives and necessary competencies to deliver Information Technology.

· Ensure that the ICT Scheme of Work covers the National Curriculum 2008 Programme of Study for ICT and that continuity and progression are assured.

· Monitor standards of achievement in ICT.

· Support staff in the assessment, recording and reporting of ICT capability.

· Advise staff, or indicate sources of advice on suitable software and appropriate good practice in its use.

· Advise the Head-teacher and governors on resource requirements and implications.

· Assist in the identification of staff INSET needs and provide training and familiarisation where appropriate.

(c) Subject Coordinators

Subject Coordinators will need to become familiar with the ICT resources available for their subject area and instruct colleagues on how such ICT resources could be used to support the teaching of their subject area. They will need to purchase appropriate ICT resources such as CD ROMs and specific software to support the learning of their subject area and advise colleagues on their use. They will also need to monitor the use of ICT within their curriculum area and ensure that their subject’s Schemes of Work and Medium Term Plans contain ICT references and activities.

(d) Classroom Teachers

Classroom teachers will need to allocate time to developing the necessary skills to enable them to teach ICT. This will include attending INSET where appropriate. They also need to ensure that they teach the appropriate ICT skills by following the ICT medium term plans compiled by the ICT Coordinator and that the children abide by the school’s E-Safety Policy.

(e) Governors

Governors will need to set aside sufficient funds to ensure that the school’s ICT equipment is able to meet our ICT requirements.

(f) LEA

LEA will need to undertake INSET both centrally based and in school to improve our ICT skill levels and provide advice on ICT resources and technical issues

Updated February 2010

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