ICT
 
The ICT facilities have recently been updated at the Prep School and ICT technology is used to enhance the curriculum in virtually all subjects. Smartboards are used in every classroom and new technology is introduced regularly to make the learning environment more productive and time efficient.
 
ICT is used as a learning resource and is utilised to provide access to the world beyond the classroom and bring it right to the desktop. ICT forms a staple part of the curriculum and Battle Abbey Prep School ensures that we have a minimum ratio of one PC per child, particularly for ICT heavy subjects.
 
A strong grasp of ICT and computer literacy in general is an enormous asset in the real world, and as such we integrate ICT into our pupils learning experience from an early age. Work in ICT is used to reinforce topics being covered in other aspects of the curriculum. For instance our Castle project is a truly cross curricular topic including elements of ICT, Geography and History, in which pupils learn where, and how best to build their castle before designing, labelling and printing their drawings and diagrams for display in the school.
 
From the age of four pupils learn how to manipulate a mouse, use a keyboard and work with a variety of bespoke learning programs on-line. All the children will be fully conversant with the majority of email and internet applications by the time they leave the Preparatory School. By year 6 children are accessing and using powerpoint, can bring their own work up on smartboards and give simple presentations on course topics.
 
Children are encouraged to complete work on the computer and are taught the valuable skill of touchtyping as part of the curriculum. Touchtyping courses and  periods of lesson time are dedicated to articulation, interaction and confident use of PCs and aspects of IT from year 3 onwards.
 
The Prep School utilises the fortinet internet filter and firewall system throughout the school, with hourly upgrades and checks to ensure that all the children remain safe in the online environment.
 
All our staff are proficient with the ICT programs in use throughout the school and are supported by a dedicated ICT manager. We also work closely with the ICT team at the senior school to ensure that children's work and records can be easily retrieved from any of our buildings. The students e-portfolio of work is passed on to the Senior School when they leave the Prep in Year 6.
 
The School benefits from an ICT suite which can be accessed by the whole school. In fact the entire site is networked to enable the children's work to be created, saved and viewed from any PC in the building or at home via a variety of software applications.
 
The School utilises the ‘J2E’ programme an online creativity tool purposely designed for education. This enables pupils to create and manage work which is then stored in an online environment that can be accessed and worked on at home. This also has the added benefit of increasing parental involvement in their child education. A real window on the classroom!
 
‘J2E’ is supported by a number of other applications including:
 
‘Units of Sound’ which is an individualised spelling programme.
 
‘Renaissance learning’ an online accelerated reading scheme.
 
‘Espresso’ an interactive curriculum based Virtual Learning Environment.
 
All these programmes and applications are designed to provide an individualised learning environment for each child which also allows parents to become more involved in their child’s classroom work from their own home.