In Spa N.S. we believe that Information and Communication Technology can greatly enhance, enrich and extend the children’s learning, allowing students to learn collaboratively and construct/discover knowledge for themselves. We work to integrate I.C.T. around and in all aspects of the Primary School Curriculum and use it a tool and a means for accessing the curriculum and supporting, enriching and extending teaching and learning.
Spa National School is a proud holder of the Digital Schools of Distinction Award. This is a flagship programme, accredited by the Dept. of Education, which aims to promote, recognise and encourage excellence in the use of technology in primary schools. We are regularly reviewing our approach to I.C.T. and looking to build on the infrastructure already in place.
All classrooms and support rooms are equipped with computers or laptops with access to printing service. A high speed broadband service has been provided through the school.
All of our mainstream classrooms are equipped with a state of the art Promethean Activ Panel. Students and teachers can control how the lessons are displayed on the screen and can add notes, images, audio and video files with continuous internet access to make it more engaging for today’s children. Highly recommended software based on the primary school curriculum has been purchased for all classes.
Students and teachers can use the twenty I.C.T. stations set up in the school’s senior resource room. These can used for typing and word processing lessons, project research, animation and after school clubs as well as during SET support and extension lessons.
Classes also use Ipads in Spa N.S. in a number of different subject lessons, during station teaching lessons and for taking project work photographs.
Our new school website, www.spanationalschol.ie was set up in 2017 with details on the school community and school activities. Spa National School also employs the Aladdin school management and information system for the day to day running of the school. The Aladdin ‘Connect’ App also allows us to communicate directly with parents and to provide all members of our school community with details of class highlights, updates and important messages.