ECM Think Tank Annex 2 - Issues for discussion

Areas for discussion

Developing the pedagogy of ICT in the framework of Every Child Matters

• Develop clear guidance on how ICT can support the delivery of the five outcomes based on research and development into the products and services that we need.
• Share best practice in creativity, innovation and invention across the whole curriculum supported by ICT.
• Stimulate the market to develop products and services that promote raising achievement and personalised learning, through the use of learning platforms and similar systems.
• Develop ICT products and services that are sensitive to the needs of vulnerable pupils and those with additional needs, including those for whom traditional schooling is not appropriate.

Leadership and governance

• Ensure that Directors of Children's Services and Lead Members are fully aware of the importance of ICT in delivering the Change for Children agenda.
• Establish the role of regional bodies in procurement and support for schools and disseminate nationally agreed frameworks to guide schools in obtaining value for money in their purchases.
• Establish a clear funding regime that supports schools in their development of ICT for teaching, learning and management, including the provision of digital resources and internet access.

Planning and commissioning

• Support ICT professionals to work with communities to embed ICT in planning for children and young people.
• Clarify the role of ICT in facilitating joint commissioning between partners, through effective communication and information sharing.
• Stimulate the market to encourage the provision of ICT for individual children with additional needs in order to support the commissioning process.

Partners and Stakeholders

• Develop an ICT blueprint for working and supporting Children's Trusts, using the experience that Naace has gained of partnering across the ICT community and with the commercial sector.
• Promote the use of ICT in recording and managing assessments including the use of the Common Assessment Framework.
• Share best practice on communication and the passing of information and assessments between professionals in a secure environment.

Engaging children and young people

• Develop ICT tools to facilitate the engagement and participation of children and young people in the design, delivery and evaluation of services.
• Gather information on what children and young people think about the role and function of ICT in helping them to achieve the outcomes that will make a difference in their lives.
• Provide tools to encourage children and young people to communicate, publish ideas and share views, within a safe environment.

Engaging Parents

• Support schools in the development of accessible web based information for parents.
• Encourage parents to support their children's learning through the use of ICT.

Workforce strategy

• Embed training in the use of ICT in the core qualifications for the workforce, including those who are commissioning services as well as those who are delivering them.

Looked after children

• Promote the value of ICT in supporting children and young people in care, including access to the internet and to packages to support learning.

Information sharing

• Provide strong guidance on best practice in sharing information across agencies.
• Develop clear protocols for information sharing, where it is in the best interests of the child while observing data protection and confidentiality.
• Put in place systems for the tracking of children who are missing from education.

Performance management

• Establish clear frameworks for MIS systems with due regard to the manageability and security of data that is passed between schools, local and central government.
• Support schools and services in the analysis of information in order to make good judgements on provision for children and young people.
• Provide nationally agreed definitions for the collection of performance indicators to measure progress on the Children and Young People's Plan.
• Establish a national children and young people's survey to assess satisfaction with the provision of services to meet the Every Child Matters agenda.

E safety

• Work with national agencies and the ICT community to alert schools and parents to the importance of educating children, young people and parents about the importance of e-safety.
• Support the training of staff to increase confidence in dealing with the issues of child safety on the internet, including applications available at home and at school, cyber-bullying and the growing trend among children and young people of posting personal information and pictures online.

Building Schools of the Future

• Work with national agencies and members of the ICT community to promote the importance of embedding ICT into initial planning for new and refurbished schools.