Setting

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Mrs L Fletcher Headteacher Crosscrake CofE Primary School Stainton Kendal Cumbria LA8 0LB

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 17 March 2009 to look at work in ICT. The visit had a particular focus on the use of the plasma screen in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text. All feedback letters will be published on the Ofsted website at the end of each half-term.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

Crosscrake CofE Primary school is a smaller than average primary school serving a rural area of south Cumbria. The proportion of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is above the national average.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

The plasma screen was installed in September 2006. Since this date it has become an integrated part of the teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The children use the screen to self register, navigate to computer programs, mark make and as a computer screen.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

The screen has enabled children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to improve their fine motor skills. It has also developed their self-esteem and motivation. This is because these children are learning much about how to use the screen and are then teaching the other children in the group. The children’s speaking and listening skills are enhanced through the use of the screen and the good quality questioning by members of staff. Boys, in particular, have benefited from using the screen to read story books. There has also been an improvement in the children’s writing skills because of the stimulus and modelling which can now take place using the screen. All the children spoken to enjoyed using the screen. They understood that they had to take turns to use the screen and what happened if they all tried to use it together. This has developed their social skills and turn taking skills. The children are also confident about navigating around the screen and finding

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

The support from the local authority and other members of staff in other schools has been much appreciated. The network of staff has produced many resources which are saving staff time and effort. The resources also cater for all the learning styles and this has improved the attention span of the children. The local authority has been flexible in its approach, you do not have to make the commitment to purchase the screen until the end of the first year. This approach meant you were able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the screen without the initial outlay.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

The screen has provided extremely good value for money. Although the initial outlay was high it has proved to be a robust, reliable piece of equipment which has enhanced and developed the teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The reliability of the screen is much appreciated as you have limited technical support.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop ICT in the school.

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Ofsted Best Practice visit– ICT

As I explained a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

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