PURPOSE
ICT holds many potential benefits for young children, and that when used appropriately, ICT can:
- Support children’s cognitive and emotional development, and the development of social and co-operative skills;
- Assist in the emergence of early literacy and mathematical thinking;
- Enhance and strengthen relationships between children and teachers, give teachers new ways to gain insight into children’s thinking or their interests;
At Happy Hearts Nursery we use ICT through Smart board learning. The teachers have all the audio-visual aids designed and planned in line with the concepts and themes planned in the class.
DEFINITIONS
Cognitive skills – core skills used by brain to think, read, learn, remember, reason and pay attention.
POLICY STATEMENT
Happy Hearts provides the use of digital cameras, computers, Smart board and internet facilities, for staff. The digital cameras allow staff to record activities going on in the setting. The computers and internet provide opportunities to enhance education by helping with activities, providing information, sharing with parents their children progress and achievements and for the planning of activities.
We ensure any photos or recordings taken of children in our setting are only done with prior written permission during registration from each child’s parents.
Digital cameras, mobile phones, computers and Smart Boards.
- All devices are pin protected.
- Photographs will be downloaded or deleted at the end of each session.
- Staff must only use the Nursery’s own digital camera to take any photographs and these must be downloaded or deleted at the end of each session.
- Staff may only use the cameras and device provided by the nursery to take photographs in the premises.
- Happy Hearts Nursery telephone number should be given out for emergency contacts for staff.
- No staff members will use their mobile phones during nursery hour for personal use.
- Additional consent will be gained for our annual class photograph session.
- Photographs of children will be deleted/destroyed when they leave the setting.
- Learning Content and data are also available on password protected computers within nursery. Computers are all password protected with only staff having access.
Computer and internet use
The computer system is owned by Happy Hearts and has appropriate software to ensure safe internet use. Happy Hearts reserves the right to examine or delete files that may be held on its system or monitor any sites visited. Staff, students and volunteers must agree to abide by the Happy Hearts policy.
Rules for responsible Usage for staff and volunteers -
- Never share personal password with anyone.
- Do not access others files without permission.
- Do not use shared drives for personal information.
- Ensure any matters regarding child protection are sent via secure email.
- Personal computer disc’s/pen drives will not be used without permission.
- Social networking sites should not be accessed via work computers or during work hours unless it is the official Facebook page to update or add photos
- Computers will be used only for agreed purposes, work emails, online training etc.
- Smart Boards will only be used by staff to access data containing the children’s online learning content.
Social Networking
- Anyone working at Happy Hearts Nursery should, at no times post anything regarding children, their parents or families or others at the setting.
- No photographs from the nursery may be used, or ones which identify the nursery or children from the nursery on personal accounts.
- No photographs of other members of staff, students or volunteers to be used without their consent.
- Any employee who becomes aware of social networking activities by a member of staff, student or volunteer that would be deemed to distasteful, or not appropriate should make the manager aware.
IMPLEMENTATION DOCUMENTS
Please refer to the following documents to ensure the effective implementation of the policy:
- Lesson Plan
- Social Media Pictures
