PROJECT: ICT TECHNICIAN

Project Leader: Eileen Oates, Head Teacher, Oakdene Special
School
Schools in Cluster: Oakdene Special School, Battledown Children’s
Centre, Paternoster Special School

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The objectives were:
· To improve standards in ICT for staff and pupils.
· To ensure regular maintenance of hardware (computers, whiteboard and digital cameras).
· To help disseminate information and good practice from one school to another and act as co-ordinator between the three schools with particular reference to the use of ICT in numeracy and literacy.
· To inform and update management on the variety and quality of hardware available.
· To offer advice with regard to a wider range of switches and access specifically tailored to meet the needs of individual pupils and enable us to share our resources.
· To produce resources using available hardware and software packages that can be shared among the three schools.
· To support the schools’ management in the use of ICT for record-keeping and analysis of results/standards.
· To instruct Teachers and Learning Support Workers in simple checking and maintenance of hardware, thus ensuring more effective use of ICT and Teacher time within the taught curriculum.
· To support our ICT development plans and NOF training.
· To assist in the production of a Record of Achievement.
· To update or produce the schools’ websites.

Collaboration within the project:
· ICT Co-ordinators met to decide on criteria, submit bid and make appointment (March 2003).
· ICT Technician is now working at each school for one day a week.
· A meeting between the ICT Co-ordinators and Technician is to be arranged in order to evaluate the project to date, and to identify how to move forward.

Innovation:
· Special schools use specific hardware and software to support the curriculum. By working together we can share our resources and ensure that our pupils have access to the very specialised ICT resources available.

REPLICABILITY
Sustainability:
· The project has only been running for 4 months. However, funding is available to continue until the end of the financial year.
· Schools are not expected to use funding for purchasing resources.
· Collaborative training can be organised and will enable greater expertise within the schools.
· Time management within school improves as resources are being produced by staff.
· Regular maintenance of hardware ensures that any likely major problems can be dealt with more efficiently.

Value Added:
· Money is saved by using the Technician to do small maintenance jobs that would normally be paid for out of our budgets.
· Staff morale is improving.

Recommended to others because:
· The liaison role ensures that good practice is disseminated from school to school.
· Teaching time is used more efficiently.
· CPD opportunities can be organised in-house.

CONTRIBUTION TO STANDARDS
· We have been able to share good practice.
· We have been able to produce and share more resources to support:
- The curriculum.
- ARR.
· As a result of developing staff confidence, pupils are using the computer more regularly.
· An audit of ICT software/hardware ensured appropriate use of resources.