ICT learning and teaching policy
ICT Learning and Teaching Policy
Aims - Enable all our staff and pupils to become competent, confident and independent users of ICT.
Learners..
Learners are engaged through the use of enriched multi-media learning experiences
Use ICT to enhance their learning, develop key skills and deepen their understanding
Extend their learning beyond the curriculum
Are empowered to take control of their ‘e-learning’ and know how to stay safe.
Staff at Portishead Primary School …
Use a wide range of ICT to plan, deliver, assess, evaluate and improve the curriculum.
Ensure and reinforce a cross-curricular approach to ICT within classroom teaching.
Use ICT to raise standards across the curriculum
Provide children with the ICT skills necessary to become independent learners.
Enrich learning and teaching through ICT for pupils by risk-taking, creativity, problem solving, developing thinking skills and innovation.
Are experts in their field and share their knowledge, skills and experience in and beyond the school community.
Provide the opportunity for extended ‘any time, any place’ learning.
Are empowered to give pupils opportunities to learn in different ways through new technologies.
Commit to the Continuous Professional Development of ICT.
Provide a learning environment where access to sustainable ICT resources is natural and commonplace.
Provide pupils with an understanding of ICT’s role in everyday life at present and its importance in the future.
Ensure appropriate and equal access to ICT for all children regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability.
Teach children about the benefits and dangers of using ICT. Teach children how to use ICT, the internet safely and be safe in online communities.
Parents and carers:
Support and understand the e-learning of their children.
Can access information that allows them to support, nurture and develop their child so they are able to achieve their potential.
Know how to keep their children safe in online communities.
Governors
Support the purchase of sustainable ICT resources to support and enhance learning opportunities across the curriculum
Support the opportunities for staff to develop their use of ICT
Use ICT to develop communication with staff
What the children want in the future of Portishead Primary’s ICT…
To develop keyboard skills – to be able to type
More time to develop the work that they have started
3D modelling
Animations
More photography
Making their own games
Videoing
Art work using the computer
Writing their own blogs
To use super logo more
A radio station
Roles and Responsibilities
The following section outlines the roles and responsibilities for the teaching of ICT throughout the school. (also see E-Safety AUP)
Role Responsibility
Governors Resources
• Approval of ICT learning and teaching policy and for reviewing its effectiveness.
• An ICT governor as a link governor to work closely with the ICT Leader to support developments and act as a critical friend. To report to Governors committee / meetings.
• Resources Committee together with the Head teacher manage the ICT budget. ICT Leader and technician to advice to advise about best value for money when purchasing hardware and software.
Headteacher and SLT Management and Leadership Staff Development
• The Headteacher and SLT will ensure that there is a system in place to allow for monitoring and support of those in school. They will ensure that internal e-safety monitoring takes place and that everyone receives the appropriate training. (see AUP for e-safety)
• SLT and the Headteacher are responsible for devising and ensuring that everyone is working towards achieving the ICT vision and strategy for ICT across the school in all aspects of teaching, management and administration.
• The ICT Leader together with the Headteacher and the SLT team evaluate the quality of the school’s ICT work and value for money.
• The Headteacher and SLT are responsible for ensuring that all staff receives suitable CPD in order to carry out their duties and train others.
• Performance Management Team leaders are responsible for negotiating staff development targets with teachers and reporting to the Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher
ICT Leader Staff Development Management and Leadership Teaching and Learning
Resources
• The ICT Leader is responsible for drawing up an ICT action plan and reporting on progress. They are responsible for advising the Headteacher on the key ICT decisions to be taken.
• The ICT Leader is responsible for reporting ICT developments to governors and parents.
• The ICT Leader is responsible for chairing ICT development team meetings.
• The ICT Leader is responsible for managing the ICT technicians.
• The ICT Leader is responsible for ensuring that the ICT policy is in place and working. They are responsible for keeping up to with current ICT developments both local and national. They attend ICT network meetings, conferences and research for current up to date information.
• The SLT will receive regular monitoring reports from the ICT Leader.
• ICT Leader is responsible for managing the ICT budget and purchasing ICT software. (Resources)
• The ICT Leader is responsible for providing a regular survey of staff ICT knowledge and skills, organising basic ICT skills training for staff, managing the national ICT training initiatives in the school and planning and delivering suitable ICT courses for all teaching staff. (Staff Development)
• Maintain and update the school website to provide regular communication with the school community.
E-Safety Co-ordinator
• Leads the e-safety committee.
• Takes day to day responsibility for e-safety issues and has a leading role in establishing and reviewing the school e-safety policies / documents.
• Ensures that all staff is aware of the procedures that need to be followed in the event of an e-safety incident taking place.
• Provides training and advice for staff.
• Liaises with the Local Authority.
• Liaises with school ICT technical staff.
• Receives reports of e-safety incidents and creates a log of incidents to inform future e-safety developments.
• Meets regularly with E-Safety Governor to discuss current issues, review incident logs and filtering / change control logs.
• Attends relevant meetings / committee of Governors
• Reports regularly to SLT.
ICT Technician Resources
• The ICT Technician is responsible for maintaining and ensuring the smooth running of the ICT infrastructure. They ensure that the school’s ICT infrastructure is secure and is not open to misuse or malicious attack.
• Responsible for the purchasing ICT hardware and installation of software onto the ICT network. Manages the ICT network.
• Will provide training for new software and hardware.
• That the school meets the e-safety technical requirements outlined in the SWGfL Security Policy and Acceptable Usage Policy and any relevant Local Authority E-Safety Policy and guidance.
• That users may only access the school’s networks through a properly enforced password protection policy, in which passwords are regularly changed.
• SWGfL is informed of issues relating to the filtering applied by the Grid.
• That he / she keeps up to date with e-safety technical information in order to effectively carry out their e-safety role and to inform and update others as relevant.
• That the use of the network is regularly monitored in order that any misuse / attempted misuse can be reported to the E-Safety Co-ordinator and /Headteacher for investigation, action, sanction.
• That monitoring software / systems are implemented and updated as agreed in school policies.
Teaching and Support Staff Curriculum Planning Responsible for ensuring that:
• Co-ordinate the cross-curricular planning and delivery of ICT
• Research curriculum materials for use in subjects
• Advise other teaching staff on the use of software etc. in their subject area
• Ensure that ICT is meeting statutory targets in subject areas
• Subject leaders to ensure that ICT is embedded and regular monitoring of ICT in their subject area takes place
• Keeping a record of individual pupil progress towards target levels
• Organise moderation meetings to ensure consistency in the levels of work
• Survey pupils’ views to find out what they think of ICT
• Research and promote approaches which make learning more effective
• Keep evidence of children’s work and keep an up to date profile of work in central resources
• Regular update the year group pages with home school links to provide regular communication with parents and carers. They have an up to date awareness of e-safety matters and of the current school e-safety policy and practices.
• They have read, understood and signed the school Staff Acceptable Use Policy / Agreement (AUP).
• They report any suspected misuse or problem to the E-Safety Co-ordinator for investigation / action / sanction.
• Digital communications with students / learners (Merlin) should be on a professional level and only carried out using official school systems.
• E-safety issues are embedded in all aspects of the curriculum and other school activities.
• The school’s e-safety and acceptable use policy is shared and understood by learners.
• Learners have a good understanding of research skills and the need to avoid plagiarism and uphold copyright regulations.
• They monitor ICT activity in lessons, extra curricular and extended school activities.
• They are aware of e-safety issues related to the use of mobile phones, cameras and hand held devices and that they monitor their use and implement current school policies with regard to these devices.
• In lessons where internet use is pre-planned, learners should be guided to sites checked as suitable for their use and that processes are in place for dealing with any unsuitable material that is found in internet searches.
High Level Teaching Assistants
Staff Development
• Maintain and update a IT inventory for the whole school
• Order purchase of ink cartridges etc
• Support the fixing of technical problems and/or report technical problems to ICT Leader and technician
• Teaching and assessment of the ICT skills in collaboration with the teachers.
• HLTAs will identify training needs for staff and provide hands on support. Training opportunities will be provided on a one to one or small group basis, during key stage or staff meeting time and in class support.
• Assist the ICT Leader with the maintenance and updating of the school website to provide regular communication with the school community.
Child Protection Officer
Should be trained in e-safety issues and be aware of the potential for serious child protection issues to arise from:
• sharing of personal data
• access to illegal / inappropriate materials
• inappropriate on-line contact with adults / strangers
• potential or actual incidents of grooming
• cyber-bullying
E-Safety Committee
Members of the E-safety committee (or other relevant group) will assist the E-Safety Coordinator / Officer (or other relevant person, as above) with:
• The production / review / monitoring of the school e-safety policy / documents.
• The production / review / monitoring of the school filtering policy.
Learners
Are responsible for using the school ICT systems in accordance with the appropriate Pupil Acceptable Use Policy, which they will be expected to sign before being given access to school systems.
• Have a good understanding of research skills and the need to avoid plagiarism and uphold copyright regulations
• Need to understand the importance of reporting abuse, misuse or access to inappropriate materials and know how to do so
• Will be expected to know and understand school policies on the use of mobile phones, digital cameras and hand held devices. They should also know and understand school policies on the taking / use of images and on cyber-bullying.
• Should understand the importance of adopting good e-safety practice when using digital technologies out of school and realise that the school’s E-Safety Policy covers their actions out of school.
Parents/Carers
• Support the teaching and learning of ICT and work in partnership with the staff to provide learning opportunities.
Parents / Carers play a crucial role in ensuring that their children understand the need to use the internet / mobile devices in an appropriate way. Research shows that many parents and carers do not fully understand the issues and are less experienced in the use of ICT than their children. The school will therefore take every opportunity to help parents understand these issues through parents’ evenings, newsletters, letters, and website information about national / local e-safety campaigns / literature. Parents and carers will be responsible for:
• Endorsing (by signature) the Student / Pupil Acceptable Use Policy
• Accessing the school website, Merlin in accordance with the relevant school Acceptable Use Policy.
Learning and teaching of ICT
Ensure that the teaching and learning of ICT meets the requirements of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum. Children, parents, staff, governors and the wide community have relevant and meaningful experiences using ICT with a clear of awareness of e-safety issues. Children develop an understanding of how ICT is used in the world around them and of the benefits that it provides. ICT is used to support problem solving and learning across the curriculum. There is an innovative use of resources that encourages risk taking.
Coverage and Progression
Teachers use new technologies and plan for a progression of skills to be taught across the school.
Opportunities for embedded ICT as a tool to support learning and teaching are identified in curriculum planning across the school. Children are encouraged to evaluate their own and others’ work in a positive and supportive environment. Information is shared with appropriate stakeholders through display, celebration events, newsletters, reports, videos, websites and blogs.
Monitoring
Regular monitoring of all aspects of ICT informs the ICT Leader and school improvement plan. Monitoring includes lesson observations and team teaching, pupil discussions, ICT profiles of work and formal/informal discussion of ICT at staff, SLT and Governing body meetings.
Learning styles and the learning environment
Medium term planning takes account of differentiation and progression. All learning styles will be considered. Open questions will be developed to challenge children’s thinking and learning. Stimulating learning environments will be created. Independent learners will have access to a variety of resources and encouraged to reflect on the choices that they have made.
Early years/Foundation Stage
Children will have a wide range of planned ICT experiences indoors, outdoors and through role-play in both child initiated and teacher directed time.
Inclusion
Children’s individual needs will be addressed through provision of resources, learning styles and questioning. Gifted and talented children are encouraged to use ICT to enhance and develop their learning opportunities.
Positive use of technology will be promoted by all.
Equal opportunities
We are committed to ensuring all children, irrespective of gender, culture, race or disability have equal opportunities to access and experience ICT. Pupils with learning disabilities can also be given greater access to the whole curriculum through the use of ICT. Specialist equipment and software can be used where necessary to identify and plan for specific learning needs. All learners have the opportunity to develop their ICT capability through additional support or challenge and extra-curricular clubs. Transition units are developed for children in year 6 to use in their transfer to Secondary school.
Home, school and community links
ICT developments and achievements are shared and a positive relationship fostered with home, school and the wider community. The School Website and a Virtual Learning Platform is developed to communicate effectively across the school and to create home and community links.
Resources
Resources are purchased and deployed effectively to meet the requirements of the Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum. Additional resources to enhance and extend the curriculum are obtained through school budget or by outside funding of special projects. An ICT asset register is kept and maintained.
Roles and responsibilities
All stakeholders will work together to ensure the implementation of the ICT policy.
The subject coordinator is responsible for monitoring curriculum coverage and the impact of learning and teaching using ICT.
Health and safety
Risk Assessments are regularly held in school by the Health and Safety Governor.
Children and parents are taught specific e-safety sessions which are regularly reinforced throughout the year during lessons and communication with parents. Age appropriate class and safety rules are displayed in the learning environment. Equipment is checked and maintained to the meet agreed safety standards.
Review
The policy will be reviewed annually by the ICT coordinator and Senior leadership team and shared with all stakeholders.
Date of next review: February 2011
Lorraine Strachan ICT Leader - February, 2010.
Agreed by Governors: February 2010
