Highly Commended

School:
Parkend Primary School

Name:
"Use of Learning Platform in Foundation Stage"

Information:

Context
Judith is teaching Foundation Stager pupils and is working on enhancing communication between home and school particularly with reference to parents understanding of the work the school is doing with their child.
The project was stimulated by a local authority pilot looking at using the Netmedia Learning Platform with foundation stage pupils asking how it would be used and with whom.

Who Was Involved?

Staff - Judith Evans initially but the project is moving to involve further staff in the school as pupils move upwards. Angela Downing and Darren Gamble from the LA.
Pupils - Foundation stage initially, now moving through to Year 1.
Parents - Parents received materials at home and were given access to the Myclasses site. They also attended training sessions at the school led by Darren Gamble and Judith Evans.

Main Focus of Project

Enhancing home school communications. Informing parents about their childs work and achievements, school diary and notices.
Making educational material available at home.

Curriculum Links

ICT, numeracy and literacy particularly but others as arising.

What Happened?

Judith originally set up one MyClasses area for foundation Stage classes with an individual logon for each pupil which parents could use at home to access the site.
This has now extended to separate Myclasses areas for nursery a.m. nursery p.m and Reception and has moved into Y1  with the pupils from the original class.

• Diary
• Newsletter for parents
• Maths star of the week
• Pupil of the week
• Calendar
• Web links e.g. Crystal ICT
• Forum for parents
• Software access e.g. powerpoint on phonics
• Multimedia by pupils showing what they have been doing using free photostory software downloaded from Microsoft.

Significantly the myclasses area has been developed to include a propertie which comprises a file box for each pupils which can be used to store multimedia records of pupils achievements and attainment of educational target. This can be added to over time to produce a personal portfolio for the pupil, which will move with them through the school.   Parents have passworded access to this area so they can be made aware of their child’s progress.

Educational Outcomes

Raised awareness of pupils’ work and achievements.
More effective communication between home and school.
Reward and acknowledgement for pupils.
Effective recording of pupils work.
Effective tool to assist assessment.

Physical Outcomes

Records of activity and achievement.
Information and resources for parents and pupils.
PowerPoint files and other resources to be used in future.

Opportunities for Future Work

Developing file storage and achievement record  concept into e-portfolio for individual pupils which will move with them through the school as the pupil progresses upward.