ICT At The Prep Department

Trinity School

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Welcome to Prep ICT
There are few aspects within our lives which are now unaffected by technology. Our Department mirrors this, exposing pupils to the diversity, influence and uses of ICT in their world.

ICT within our department is ‘cutting edge’. Although closely following the national curriculum, here at Trinity we have the facilities to operate ‘outside the box’. This means we can be innovative, both in the way in which we teach the subject and in the experiences we can give our pupils. One recent example was our last Harvest Festival, in which Year Five produced their own video, which was then screened as part of the church service.

Aims and Curriculum
Our aim is to develop, stimulate and maintain pupils’ curiosity, interest and enjoyment in ICT, to encourage them to have open, enquiring minds and to perceive ICT in the context of a wider body of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. We aim for our pupils to progress on to their senior and higher education with all the necessary skills and a high degree of confidence to apply them.

During their time within the Preparatory Department, pupils are enabled to acquire appropriate knowledge, understanding and skills which are transferable to all areas of the curriculum. These skills support life-long study and the pursuit of personal interests and prospective employment in this global, highly technological society.

All pupils, from Reception to Year 6 receive timetabled, dedicated ICT lessons in our ICT suite, where they can work individually, in pairs or in small groups on topic work.

We base our ICT curriculum on the Spark Island scheme, with every pupil (from Year 1 upwards) having a textbook and access to the related software. The scheme is child-friendly and fun and covers all areas of the National Curriculum. Children from Year 3 upwards are taught traditional keyboard skills which teaches the use of both hands and all fingers to ‘touch-type’. By Year 6, most children are able to word process with accuracy and speed. This is an important skill as they enter their senior education.

Subject teachers make frequent use of ICT, using the ICT suite for research and development of their subject teaching and of the interactive whiteboards as teaching aids. Additional equipment includes: an interactive floor-mat which is connected to the computers and develops special awareness and physical dexterity; Roamer the Robot, which develops children’s programming skills.

The internet is highly popular and our high-level filter system helps ensure children’s safety whilst online. The safe use of social networking sites has been integrated into our teaching programme and advice is also available to our parents.

Extra Curricular
ICT is encouraged as an extra-curricular activity, with an after-school club being available each week. Children are sometimes also invited to Saturday workshops, where ‘free-choice’ is highly popular!

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