Early Years
ICT strategy for early years
Background to the Strategy
Learning and Teaching Scotland was asked by the Scottish Executive in October 2001 to carry out a review of the role of ICT in pre-school. This involved the commissioning of:
- a literature review: ICT in Pre-School: A 'Benign Addition'?
- a study of current practice in ICT in a number of early years establishments
- a study of the use of ICT in pre-school settings during spring and summer 2002: Come back in two years!
- consultation: both a national consultation of all early years establishments and a smaller, targeted consultation of local authorities and external agencies.
The information gathered was used to inform the development of an ICT strategy for early years.
The Strategy consisted of:
- Early Learning, Forward Thinking: The Policy Framework for ICT in Early Years (October 2003). This set out the framework and background to the ICT strategy for umbrella organisations, local authorities, childcare partnerships and heads and staff of early years settings.
- A national programme of training and support. This included
- Early Years Masterclass training for key staff
- Training for trainers throughout Scotland, as part of continuing staff development for all early years practitioners.
- Support and guidance materials for all early years staff to support their use of ICT in Early Years settings.
- A monitoring and evaluation process to appraise the impact of the strategy.