Policies

Kilmacrennan NS

ICT/Digital Strategy Policy

Mission Statement

As well as being an important educational resource, the ability to use ICT effectively is a vital life skill in modern society.  Our aim is to produce learners (pupils and staff) who are confident and effective users of ICT.  We strive to achieve this aim by:

  • Helping all staff and pupils to explore the learning resources provided by ICT
  • Helping all children to use ICT with purpose and enjoyment
  • Helping all children to develop the necessary skills to exploit ICT
  • Helping children to become autonomous users of ICT
  • Helping all children to evaluate the benefits of ICT and its impact on society
  • Using ICT to develop partnerships beyond the school
  • Celebrating success in the use of ICT.
  • Providing copies of our policies to parent body/ Parents’ Association

Rationale

Our school requires ICT in order to

  1. To provide the best possible education for all our pupils
  2. To provide a powerful and up to date teaching resource for all our teachers
  3. To allow for more effective administration
  4. To help provide more effective communication with staff and parents
  5. To communicate with teachers and pupils in Europe and further afield
  6. To prepare children for life in a technologically advanced world.

ICT is used in our school for:

  1. School Administration
  2. Research software
  3. Adventure games that stimulate higher order thinking skills and problem solving
  4. Word Processing of children’s work
  5. Research on the internet
  6. Communication via email
  7. Music composition and digital recording
  8. Storage of Records of achievement/portfolio assessment
  9. Special Needs pupils.
  10. Home-School links e.g webtext service, School Newsletters on website, Pupil & Parent Zone on website

Kilmacrennan N.S

Our Digital Learning Plan

  1. Introduction

This document records the outcomes of our current digital learning plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet the targets.

1.1 School Details:

  • Kilmacrennan N.S is a vertical, co-educational national school. There is currently a pupil enrolment of 200.  There are 15 teachers, 4 of whom work in SET, 2 in ASD Settings and  8 SNA’s.  The school derives much of its population from Kilmacrennan parish, with some pupils travelling from outside areas.  The school has a very active Parents Association who regularly fundraise for school resources.  Currently we have 22 PC’s in a computer suite. Each teacher also has their own laptop and digital projector in their classroom.

1.2 School Vision:

  • In our school we believe that digital technologies should be used for teaching, learning and assessment across the curriculum. Digital technology needs to be an integral part of the teaching and learning in schools today.  The management will promote a culture of technologies.  It is also our aim that pupils will have access to current digital technologies and we will match future investment to the learning of the pupils.
  • We want to use Digital Learning as an exciting, engaging and creative medium for expression whereby the pupils in our school can create meaningful digital content as opposed to passively engaging with digital technology. We also recognise the positive impact that digital technologies can have on the learning of pupils with special and additional needs and aim to harness this potential in our school moving forward.

1.3 Brief account of the use of digital technologies in the school to date:

  • In our school to date technology is used in line with available infrastructure.  We aim to focus more on student engagement with digital technology for learning.
  • Pupils currently using technology to source information, but not to create their own digital content.
  1. The focus of this Digital Learning Plan

We recently undertook a digital learning evaluation in our school and we evaluated our progress using the following sources of evidence:

  • Teacher and pupil questionnaires
  • Online survey tool
  • Checklists
  • Feedback at staff meetings

2.1 The dimensions and domains from the Digital Learning Framework being selected

  • Teaching and learning: Learner outcomes

 

2.2 The standards and statements from the Digital Learning Framework being selected

 

Standard Statement(s)
Pupils enjoy their learning, are motivated to learn and achieve as learners. Pupils use appropriate digital

technologies to foster active

engagement in attaining

appropriate learning outcomes.

 

2.3. These are a summary of our strengths with regards digital learning

  • Pupils in the school are quite proficient in using digital technology
  • Some staff members are engaged in a number of digital technology projects
  • Staff members are motivated gain CPD relating to embedding digital technologies across the curriculum, with some already having done so.
  • Funding available to purchase equipment , if needed.

 

2.4 This is what we are going to focus on to improve our digital learning practice further

  • Staff will engage in CPD in order to facilitate to greater use of digital technologies by pupils
  • We will set up peer support for staff members to increase competence and confidence in embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment
  • Design activities where pupils use digital technologies to support to enhance learning in different curricular areas
  1. Our Digital Learning plan

On the next page we have recorded:

  • The targets for improvement we have set
  • The actions we will implement to achieve these
  • Who is responsible for implementing, monitoring and reviewing our improvement plan
  • How we will measure progress and check outcomes (criteria for success) As we implement our improvement plan we will record:
  • The progress made, and adjustments made, and when
  • Achievement of targets (original and modified), and when

Digital Learning Action Plan

DOMAIN: (From Digital Learning Framework) Learner Outcomes
STANDARD(S): (From Digital Learning Framework) Pupils enjoy their learning, are motivated to learn and achieve as learners
STATEMENT(S): (From Digital Learning Framework) Pupils use appropriate digital technologies to foster active engagement in attaining appropriate  learning outcomes
TARGETS: (What do we want to achieve?)  Pupils will create and share curricular based digital content, appropriate to their class level, once per month
ACTIONS

(What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME

(When is it to be done by?)

PERSONS / GROUPS RESPONSIBLE

(Who is to do it?)

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

(What are the desired outcomes?)

RESOURCES

(What resources are needed?)

●        Teachers will engage in CPD on using digital technologies to create content with a CPD provider

●        Pupils will engage digital content at each term

●        Infant Level: Beebots

●        1st/2nd Class: Teacher lead Kahoots

●        3rd/4th Class: Book Creator/ Pupil lead Kahoots

●        5th/6th Class: Powerpoint

●        Pupils will regularly share the digital content with their peers and get feedback on it.

●        Staff will share their experiences using digital technologies in their classrooms with each other and engage in peer support where appropriate

●        June 2019

·         Sept – June 2019-2020

·         March – June 2019

·         Sept 2019 – June 2021

·         DT to arrange support – All staff

· All staff & Pupils

· All Staff & Pupils

· All staff

●        Dt to arrange support – All staff

·         Sharing good practice at whole staff session/staff meetings in April.

·         Construct a framework documenting the tools used in each class

●        Computer Suite

●        Laptops

●        Digital Projectors

●        Online Tools

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:(How are we progressing? Do we need to make adjustments?

Have we achieved our targets?)

Feedback at staff meeting,

Review : At Croke Park Staff Meeting in September 2021,

We noted that the last two school-years have been significantly impacted

by Covid, though Online teaching became hugely important. The school staff

undertook training in Online Learning platforms and chose the Seesaw

App as our primary engagement with pupils, though there was also a

significant engagement in face-to-face online classroom teaching through

Zoom/Microsoft Teams etc. The staff have continued to engage with pupils

who are absent this school-year through the Seesaw App.

We decided to hold an In-School Online Safety Month in October of each

year, including classroom-based lessons, in-school Art competitions,

School Assemblies, links for parents etc.

We will continue to invest in IT and will examine the possibility of

upgrading our Interactive Whiteboards over time. We have recently

invested in several teacher laptop upgrades and the purchase

of classroom i-pads in two classrooms, and in our ASD Suites (IT Grant).

We noted, with particular reference to the movement of teachers within

classrooms in the school, the importance of looking again at targets and

timeframes. To revisit at the next Croke Park Meeting.

Our IT Suite is being used as a classroom this school year but we hope the

Suite will be available to us in February 2022. This will provide an

opportunity to re-organise the Suite.

Previous years

Cuntais Miosula, evidence of pupil work completed using DT.

4th March: Teachers trialling digital learning increased pupil usage, starting out very well

11th March:  Evidence of digital content being shared throughout the

school

 

Summary of School Audit

Current Infrastructure

  • In keeping with our mission, we perceive computers being used as a tool of teaching and learning in each classroom. All computers are networked to our own internal network including networked printing.
  • Our current broadband provider is Eircom, as dictated by Department of Education and Skills Schools Broadband scheme.
  • There is an IT room which contains 10 PC’s.
  • Most up-to-date operating system to be chosen when purchasing new computers.
  • Each classroom has a data projector, interactive whiteboard and teacher laptop.
  • There is 1 digital cameras in the school for use by the classes
  • The office is equipped with a laptop, iPad, colour printer and a photocopier/scanner.
  • There are 16 Dell PCs in the classrooms.
  • Digital Information screen at reception area.

Current Usage of Facilities

  • Computers are used as a medium of teaching and learning in all the classrooms, but we also timetable computer hours for each class stream in the computer suite.
  • Current usage includes pre-reading and early reading work; pre-number and early number work; mathematical application; development of thinking and problem solving skills; word processing, desktop publishing; use of multimedia encyclopaedia and typing skills; internet work; presentation of project work; creating art work; spelling; development of fine motor skills; music composition and recording.
  • Staff are encouraged and frequently attend ICT courses for up-skilling and continuous professional development.

Additional Information

ICT Co-ordination

  • The school has a special duties teacher, who holds responsibility for ICT as part of a designated schedule of responsibilities
  • Any IT faults which cannot be rectified by hardware user are to be reported to the ICT co-ordinator.
  • Anti-virus Protection is installed on all computers with access to broadband.

Access

Pupils and teachers have permanent access to ICT.

Special Needs

Computers are provided in the learning support rooms, and resource rooms, as we recognise the potential of ICT to enhance the learning opportunities for pupils with special needs.  Children with specific writing, reading and numeracy needs are using ICT to provide alternative and complementary educational experiences.  Laptops and specialised keyboards are also provided where appropriate.

Exceptional Students

ICT is used in all classrooms to challenge and extend the educational opportunities for pupils with above average attainment.

Maintenance

  • We use FS Computers for our IT needs

Health and Safety Aspects

All new computers purchased will comply with European regulations regarding radiation.

 

School Website

  • The school hosts a website at www.kilmacrennanschool.com
  • School newsletters and other news items will regularly be added
  • School policies that are relevant to parents will also be added to this site.

Actual usage of ICT in School

Children will acquire a certain level of competency at using computers.  Skills to be learned are outlined below:

Examples:

Junior  & Senior Infants      – Computer Familiarity- Programmes such as Starfall, Jolly Phonics, use of interactive whiteboard, Big Books, interactive Storytelling.  Junior and Senior Infants have introduced an interactive Gaeilgeprogramme ‘Bua na Cainte’ from September 2015. Weekly visits to school computer suite.  Online Music. Library borrowing using Databiz system
1st  & 2ndclass  – as above. further Computer Familiarity; Competency Using Mouse; Competency using Drill Software Programmes such as BBC typing(Dance mat),

– Computer Familiarity; Competency Using Mouse and keyboard; File Open/Save; Write Stories; Competency using Drill Software, Programmes such as BBC typing, Mavis Beacon
3rd   & 4th class             – Computer Familiarity; Competency Using Mouse and keyboard; File Open/Save; Write Stories with Mixed Cases; Competency using Drill Software; Internet Research, Data Manipulation, use of educational games and activities across a range of school subjects; typing Programmes; News 2Day; webwise safety talks for parents
5th & 6th class                         – Computer Familiarity; Competency Using Mouse and keyboard; File Open/Save; Write Stories with Mixed Cases; Competency using Drill Software; Internet Research, Search Engines, Data Manipulation, typing programmes, project work, , Mavis Beacon, Powerpoint; webwise safety awareness for children; web safety talks for parents.

  • School Holidays

    • Easter Holidays
      There will be no school from Monday 25th March for two weeks.

      Re-opening on Monday 8th April.
    • May Bank Holiday
      We are closed on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th May.
    • Enrolment News
       

      We will accept applications for the 2024/25 school year from 8 January until 29 January 2024..

       

      Use the first link for Applications to our Mainstream Junior Infant class & for applications to other Mainstream Classes

      New Enrolments

      Enrolment Application Form  school year

      Please attach a copy of the child's Birth Certificate with the application.

      Please contact the School Office for Information regarding Applications for our ASD Class.

      Forms for Special Class Applications are listed below.

      NCSE-Application-Form-1-Application-for-access-to-SNA-support (9)

      SEN-School-Transport-Application-Form (22)