ICT & E-Learning

At Quarry View Primary we believe that children have an entitlement of experience with regards to ICT.  We are committed to providing a stimulating and challenging environment, in which our children feel confident in the use of ICT.  ICT has been the biggest growth area in the school curriculum and will continue to do so over the next few years. Spending on development has been carefully planned with a view to enhancing and keeping up to date with rapid developments in technology.  Purchasing of equipment is aimed at encompassing the full scope of information.  Each being aimed at creating an awareness of the accessibility and potential within the modern day world.  We are educating for the future.

We aim to provide the most effective tools to be used throughout the curriculum to facilitate teaching and learning.  Where the majority of the cases the emphasis is on the subject, rather than on the technology used, this will provide ‘every' child full access to their curriculum entitlement, developing their understanding of the applications of existing, new and developing technologies.

Vision and Mission Statement

ICT plays a vital role in our mission of creating a stimulating and challenging environment in which our children feel confident, secure and able to reach their full potential.  ICT supports the vision of our school.

Aims

1. To enable the children at Quarry View to experience and learn through the presence of quality IT resources within school.

2. To promote the use of computers as a tool for learning.

3. For the children to feel at ease with modern technology.

4. To give the children the access to quality software and hardware, that they may never encounter in their everyday lives.

Rationale

ICT is extremely important to both staff and students at Quarry View Primary School.  It allows the whole school to develop a positive self-image, which can be observed by the individual, public and other organisations.

The ICT and ILS room facilitates a non-threatening environment where children can become motivated and enthusiastic when practising and extending ICT skills.

The skills taught at Quarry View Primary school are focused upon the individual needs of the children allowing them to confidently achieve their full academic and social potential.  It has become evident the considerable progress made by all children.

Evidence of improvements in competencies have emerged by the need of a more advanced ICT scheme and monitoring and assessment of each individual pupil.

The equipment available empowers and promotes decision-making skills, control skills and interaction between staff and pupils and the wider society.  All of which are highly valued at Quarry View Primary School.

What is ICT?

At Quarry View Primary School we interpret the term Information and Communication Technology to include the use of any equipment which allows all staff and pupils to communicate, store, process and transmit information in a variety of forms by electronic means and its use in controlling the operation of machines and other devices.  Devices that have been identified by both staff and pupils are as follows:

• computers/internet
• overlay keyboards
• voice operating equipment
• programmable toys
• calculators
• electronic musical instruments
• audio and video recorders
• telephones
• fax machines
• digital cameras
• Ceefax
• scanners
• photocopiers
• interactive whiteboards
• ILS learning packages

Curriculum Organisation

The ICT room has been designed and developed to reflect the value and importance of ICT to both staff and pupils.  It is used to develop staff skills following NGFL training program and also curriculum related skills specific to lessons at Quarry View Primary School.  This is delivered by the ICT co-ordinator or LEA bodies.

Every child at Quarry View Primary School will receive their curriculum entitlement with peers in the ICT room each week.  They will also access the ILS room on a weekly basis with class teacher and during PPA time.  Each child regardless of academic ability and gender will receive equal opportunities in line with the schools equal opportunities policy.

Differentiation of tasks delivered will meet the needs of the individual children at Quarry View Primary School (see scheme).  Children with special educational needs will be given extra support by teacher, NTA, Nursery Nurse or peers, (as in line with Special Educational Needs Policy and guidance) depending upon the individual activity.  Children who illustrate a particular strength in the subject will also be given extended tasks allowing them to reach their full potential and excel in this subject area (See scheme and weekly planning).

Teachers and children will implement the scheme produced by the ICT Co-ordinator which covers ICT skills recommended by the National Curriculum and QCA documents for their age range (see scheme).

The teaching of ICT for one hour will deliver teaching of new skills and practising and refining of skills already learnt.  Access to the internet (see policy) CD Roms and SIR programme will allow children access to material which will enhance, enrich and extend their learning.

Curriculum Links

ICT is incorporated to support literacy and numeracy.  RM Maths is used across the school for all children to support their learning.  The SIR Global Learning programs are used by all children to support and extend learning.  The children are individually tracked and the program produces programs and tasks at each individual level.

Home-School Links

Quarry View Primary School develops and supports home-school links in a variety of ways.  Many year groups run after school clubs throughout the academic year (see evidence file).  Family Learning initiatives focusing on literacy and numeracy are ongoing and in conjunction with the City of Sunderland colleges.  The school's website is live and regularly updated, containing activities to be completed.

Teaching and Learning Styles

Various teaching and learning strategies are expected following staff to use their professional judgement to decide upon the delivery of ICT.

These will include:

• whole class demonstration of programs
• a group or class discussion of the benefits and limitations
• children working individually or paired using work cards or conducting research
• a collaborative approach eg. class data base

Recording, Assessment and Reporting

Assessment of children's ICT capabilities is achieved by planning appropriate curriculum activities in line with the school's general policy for assessment.  A portfolio of work will be collated as evidence of ICT work carried out throughout school.  Within year groups levels of work will be agreed and moderated to ensure continuity.

Resources

Hardware and software will be purchased and replaced as required (see school development plan).  An audit of equipment is carried out on a yearly basis.  (See appendix 1 for current audit).  Funding will be obtaining from the schools ICT budget and also funds provided by the NGFL and e-learning credits.

Maintenance and repairs of equipment will be carried out by the ICT Co-ordinator, Southmoor House or Stone Computers depending upon the extent of the repair.

Software licences are kept in a file and are the responsibility of the ICT Co-ordinator and Senior Management Team.

Staff Needs

Inset is provided each year by the ICT Co-ordinator, local authority training or training providers to support new initiatives.  Inset delivered in house will be related to curriculum delivery of the subject and also individual needs of the staff in the ICT room.

Inset so far has been based on:

1. Interactive Whiteboard

2. Keeping up with new technology

3. Concepts covered in scheme

4. ICT equipment - digital camera and scanner

5. XC Links

6. NTAs & NNEBs/Teachers

7. Digital Camera

8. Cross Curricular Links

9. Aspects of Year 6 scheme

10. SIR Global English, Global Maths and Assessment

11. Web Links

12. SAT testing online

Inset to be delivered:

1. Use of control software

2. Use of Junior Control World

3. Junior Compose

4. Interactive Whiteboard

5. How to keep up with new technology

6. How to track children using SIR learning system

7.  Cross curricular links within classroom

Inset is provided each half term by the ICT Co ordinators in school and by external agencies whenever needed.  We aim to continue this throughout 2007/8 as we are a school who thrives in the use of ICT.  All staff are competent users we are aiming to extend our skills by being more creative in the curriculum.  This is working in partnership with our creative curriculum work.

 Spring Training 2007

In spring staff were taught how to update this new website format that we have had designed.  It is very easy and if anyone would like to know more just contact Helena West (see contacts) .  Training was also provided to demonstrate to staff how to teach touch typing.  All children from Year 1 are to be taught how to touch type from  Summer 1st Half term.  This will improve their keyboard skills.

Summer Training 2007

Promethean Planet

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/uk/

This half term we are enhancing our Interactive whiteboard skills.  One of the tools to do this is to work through the promethean online tutorials and complete in house training from the two ICT co ordinators.  All staff have a basic skill we are now enhancing to ensure our collegues are using their whiteboard creatively.

Podcasting

We are about to embark on pod casting training which is to be delivered by our ICT co ordinator.  This will be used throughout the school from reception creating podcasts up to Year 6 planning directing and creating podcasts independently.  The plan is that all children will create podcasts to encourage speaking and listening skills and awareness of audience.  We plan to create revision materials to support with SAT work and general basic skill work.

Watch out for our podcasts in summer 2nd half term.

Co-ordinating implementation

The implementation of the ICT policy is the responsibility of the ICT Co-ordinator and all staff at Quarry View Primary School. Day to day management of the ICT room will primarily be the responsibility of the ICT co-ordinator.  Each teacher is responsible for the management of the delivery and use of equipment during their class session.

The equipment is the responsibility of all staff that uses it to ensure it is employed appropriately and responsibly by children.

An ICT technician is employed to support staff in delivery of lessons and to maintain equipment with LEA support.

The ICT co-ordinator reports to the deputy head and head on matters of finance or management decisions.

The ICT policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis due to the rapid changes with ICT allowing Quarry View Primary School to keep up to date and in line with government requirements.  Any changes will be made by the ICT co-ordinator then consultation with staff will take place.

Monitoring and Reviewing

• Monitoring will be focused upon the appropriate use of the ICT room and equipment.
• Implementation and delivery of new scheme, both KS1 and KS2
• Appropriateness of activities to age range.
• Staff capabilities/weaknesses.
• SIR Global Learning Package

The ICT co-ordinator is responsible for the monitoring of the above to ensure improvements of practise continue.  Support will be given to weaknesses within the inset program.

Staff and pupil confidence, delivery and implementation are of great importance to Quarry View Primary School.  All staff completed NOF training.

The new recording of attainment scheme will be monitored by ICT co-ordinator attending planning meetings and moderation meetings of year groups.

Management Integration System

At Quarry View Primary School we use the SIMS system in accordance with the Local Education Authority.  All children's records will be recorded on databases so that it is easy to transfer records and sort information appropriately.  Administration staff and Assessment and Recording co-ordinator have attended the courses with regards to the use of the system.  Monitoring and reviewing of this system is in line with local education authority policy.

ICT Buddies

To encourage responsibility and peer support within ICT across the school we have adopted a peer support network.

A number of children from Years 3, 4 and 5 are encouraged to become ‘ICT Buddies' to support the younger children in Key Stage 1 (see photograph gallery in ICT room).

The ICT Buddies support the younger children to develop their ICT skills and encourage respect for equipment and programs.

The ICT buddies sometimes work one to one, with a small group or pairs of children.  They follow the lead from the teacher and meet with the ICT coordinator on a regular basis to evaluate their role and ICT within school.

I am aiming to extend their role to manage our leap pad reading system and programmable toys.

The ICT Buddies are an asset to school as they support Key Stage 1 children effectively and help extend their learning.  They play a significant role in the use of ICT in school.

Development Plans for 2005 - 2008

At Quarry View Primary, all pupils and staff will be competent users of the internet and e-mail facility.  Children in Years 4 and 6 will have designed and edited web pages as part of the school's ICT scheme, all staff and children will continually update the school's web page with curriculum websites.

All teachers will continue to plan on laptops and contribute planning to their year group server file.

All teachers and children will become competent users of the SIR Global Learning Package.

All staff will update records of ICT achievement online.

All staff will become familiar with tracking ICT, Literacy and Numeracy competencies online and using SIR Global Learning Package.

Staff and pupils will become competent programmers using control technology.

ICT will be embedded across the curriculum with the support of staff.  See Action Plans.