THORNTON-IN-CRAVEN C.P. SCHOOL

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Rationale:

Information and Communications Technology integrates the full range of media through which successful learning takes place: sound, vision, text and number. ICT now permeates all aspects of life in a modern technological society and all children are entitled to become active participants in its use to enrich their learning.

Aims:

· Pupils should be encouraged to see ICT as a tool for learning, as essential a part of classroom life as using pen and paper.

· Pupils should be taught to use ICT and information sources effectively to analyse, process and present information and to model, measure and control external events as required by the National Curriculum for IT.

· Children should develop an understanding of the uses, importance and limitations of ICT in the modern world including the need to avoid undesirable materials.

· All pupils should have regular and equal access to a broad and balanced ICT experience across the whole curriculum.

· Children should develop a positive attitude to ICT and develop their ICT capacity through both independent and collaborative working.

Guidelines:

· ICT will be included at all levels of curriculum planning for all subjects areas.

· ICT work will be differentiated by provision of additional support and extension activities where appropriate.

· All pupils are entitled to a taught ICT input of at least 1 hour per week.

· To store temporary files, pupils will each have their disc which will be checked regularly for viruses.

· School administration files will be protected from unauthorised access.

· Children’s ICT capability will be monitored and assessed termly.

· World Wide Web sites will be first evaluated by staff to protect pupils from access to undesirable materials.

· The school web site will be updated each term to include learning materials which pupils may access from their home computers or from within Homework Clubs.

· The whole school software plan shows progression in each ICT strand and all software is available throughout the network.

· Computers will at all times be set up and ready for use in classrooms and shared areas.

· Hardware and software provision will be reviewed each year in line with the school ICT Development Plan.

· Training will be made available each year for all school staff provided in-school or by the LEA advisory service.

· A parent and pupil ICT club will be set up if there is sufficient demand.