Information and Communications Technology Policy
Rationale
We believe that ICT in the curriculum enhances the breadth and depth of all curriculum areas. It equips children with those skills required by a technological society: it provides an additional, stimulating teaching medium: it extends learning beyond the classroom. It gives children the freedom to communicate by handling and presenting information to a variety of audiences. The school website has been developed with this in mind providing information and links to relevant websites
Aims
At Croft C.E. Primary we aim to:-
- Teach effectively the use of open-ended programs eg. word-processing, data-handling, desktop publishing, controlling, monitoring and modelling, to analyse, process and present information
- Extend thinking by using simulations: programs which put pupils in a real life/imaginary situation where they have to make decisions about the development of the program
- Support the National Curriculum and QCA Guidelines for ICT by reinforcing all subjects through the use of multi-media materials, a wide range of up to the minute information and electronic devices including computers, floor robots, electronic microscopes, fax machines, calculators, photocopying machines, tape recorders, CD players, cameras, digital movie maker, webcam and data-logging equipment
- Utilise specialist learning programs for assisting Special Needs children, extending Able children and furthering independent and collaborative learning
- Develop communication by linking with the Internet, sending E-mail and establishing links with schools at home and abroad
- Provide parents with appropriate information and links to educational websites
- Provide extracurricular access for children and the community
- Provide a safe environment
Provision
There will be a minimum of three PCs with Internet access and a printer, one interactive whiteboard and projector, a digital camera, a digital movie-maker, and a TV and video recorder in each classroom; there are 26 laptops and a variety of peripherals including scanners and a digital camcorder available for school use. Machines will be set up and available for use at all times. Software used will be appropriate to that subject and differentiated according to the ability of the child.
Each child will be entitled to one hour of ICT input per week, with ½ hour direct instruction from Y1 upwards. All KS2 children will have access to a class memory stick to store work. Children must notify a member of staff immediately if a virus is detected. They will have access to a school E-mail address for use with established school links at home and abroad. All E-mails will be checked by a member of staff before being sent.
Each member of staff has a laptop and receives up to date training to enable them to use ICT effectively in curriculum delivery in their classroom. Training will also be identified and provided, as budgetary constraints allow and as identified by staff in their performance management or through lesson observation feedback. All Newly Qualified Teachers must have passed their QTS skills test in ICT.
Supervision
Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils.
Internet access will be controlled in the following ways:-
- Computers will be on open display in the classroom
- Programs accessed will be closely supervised by staff
- Children will be made aware of their responsibility to use the Internet sensibly and the associated risks
- Parents will be asked to sign a permission form allowing their child to access the Internet at school and informing them of our safeguards
- Lessons will be planned using known Websites for information retrieval
- An Internet Service Provider (ISP) which offers 'parental control' facilities and filters access to unsuitable materials will be used (Bull through NYCC)
- Internet access will be through the NYCC route which provides a high level of information filtering
- School administration files will be protected from unauthorised access by the provision of a separate modem to the office computers
SEN
Appropriate hardware and software will be used to facilitate the learning of children with SEN as identified in their IEPs. Programs recommended by the SLD Outreach team have been purchased to support SEN pupils with statements
Assessment and recording
This will follow the guidelines set out in the school's assessment and recording policy.
In addition, each child from Y1 upwards will have their own folder into which their work is saved to show progression. This will be ongoing throughout the year.
Each member of staff will monitor the folders to assess levels and ensure each child receives their minimum entitlement. They will also include ICT in their planning using QCA materials and the subject leader will monitor these.
Review
The subject leader will monitor the quality of teaching and learning in ICT termly through classroom observation and scrutiny of planning and children's work.
An annual audit of skills and ICT equipment will be used to identify priority areas in the ICT Action Plan and to feed back into the biannual review of the School Development Plan. The policy will be reviewed annually.
Reviewed January 2010
