LAPTOP POLICY Priory Preparatory School is committed to providing best access to the curriculum for all its pupils. The use of laptops has been shown to be beneficial for children with specific learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia. The use of laptops in lessons by pupils with SLDs is therefore encouraged, within the terms of this policy. Provision of laptops These are to be provided by parents and should ideally be of the small notebook type, which take up less space on the desk and allow room for textbooks etc. Charging Laptops should be charged at home. When not in use they should be put on standby or switched off, in order to conserve power. If the laptop loses power, the pupil should use pen and paper. They may not be connected to wall sockets at school, other than in exceptional circumstances (eg for use in an external exam) and then at the discretion of staff. Safety and Security During school breaks or when the pupil is elsewhere (eg at games), the laptop should be locked in a cabinet in room 6B. The child will hold a key and a second key will be kept in the school office for emergencies. While the school will do what it can to prevent damage or loss, we cannot be held responsible for this and recommend that parents ensure the laptop is covered by their own household insurance. Parents should install a filter on the laptop to prevent the pupil accessing inappropriate sites, either deliberately or accidentally. We recommend that the pupil have a password for his laptop, in order to protect his privacy and his work. The school should have a note of this password. Punctuality The child must be responsible for collecting his laptop promptly and arriving in the classroom on time for each lesson. School Work Completed on Laptops. Work completed on laptops should be printed out at home and returned to the subject teacher for marking. The marked work will be returned to the pupil who should stick it into his book. Parents should refrain from amending work brought home on the laptop as this prevents staff from accurately assessing a pupil s attainment, (which informs future teaching). Homework Where appropriate, homework may be done on the laptop. This should be printed off at home and brought to school on paper. However, as noted for classroom use, some pieces of homework cannot be done successfully on the laptop.
Pupil Use * Pupils using laptops may type work into their laptop as an alternative to writing it into books or onto sheets. Worksheets specially designed for laptop use are not provided. * Some work is not appropriate for laptop use (eg map work, maths) and on these occasions, the pupils must use exercise books, as directed by the teacher. * The pupil may use the spellcheck and grammar functions on his laptop (except in discrete spelling and grammar exercises). * The pupil may keep lists of subject-specific technical words on the laptop and may use these as required. * In ICT lessons, the pupil will use a school computer, along with his classmates. * The pupil may use the laptop in exams where this is helpful and appropriate. If spelling and grammar are among the subjects assessed then the spellcheck and grammar functions must be switched off. *The pupil may not connect the laptop to the school network in any way, including by network cable, wirelessly and via memory stick. There is to be an air gap at all times to prevent virus transmission in either direction. The wireless ability of the laptop must be switched off during the school day. * Activities other than schoolwork are not permitted on laptops used in school. Parents should remove games software installed as part of the operating system. * Software that helps pupils over come their SLD may be installed at home. Sanctions * We reserve the right to remove laptop use from any pupil who does not comply with required use. This may be for the remainder of a lesson, for a fixed temporary period, or permanently, at the school s discretion. LAPTOP AGREEMENT We have read the school s laptop policy and agree to abide by the requirements. We understand that any misuse of the laptop at school will result in laptop use being withdrawn. This may be for a fixed period or permanently, depending on the situation and at the school s discretion. Signed: Parent Signed: Child
Choosing and Setting up a Laptop It is important to remember that a laptop may not be an instant solution to solve a pupil's difficulties. This document outlines some of the practical limitations and important considerations for introducing a laptop to a pupil. It includes the following: Laptop specifications Setting up a laptop Using a laptop in the classroom Ergonomic considerations Training and support for staff and parents. Click here to download a PDF printable version of this page. Choosing a Laptop - Recommended Specifications The laptop and accessories should be lightweight (preferably 3kg or less). A lightweight rucksack or trolley should be provided to carry a laptop. The screen should be clear, matt and at least 14 inches across diagonally. Look for a laptop with a long battery life minimum of 4 hours is recommended. The laptop should have a glide pad, roller ball or external mouse. The laptop should have a USB port so that an external mouse can be attached. Ensure that it has friction/rubber pads underneath to prevent it from sliding. Sufficient memory (minimum 512 RAM) and speed. The laptop will need to have standard MS Office Software installed this may involve buying an additional license for an individual pupil. Due to the changeover to Windows Vista, school may wish to consider what the best operating system (OS) to purchase is. There are less and less laptops available with XP Pro OS. If the school network has an XP Pro OS and the laptop has Vista there may be some difficulties configuring the equipment and saving files onto the network. Does the laptop have a CD/DVD disc drive? Many laptops now come with this as standard and DO NOT have a floppy disc drive. Practical Considerations - Setting up a Laptop
Schools will need to ensure their technician sets up the laptop. Work saved onto the laptop must also be backed up onto the school network as with other networked computers. The laptop should have a network printers installed. And this should be available throughout the day. Pupils need an opportunity to print homework. Consider how to apply the school s standard e-safety features so that the laptop can be used safely at school and at home if required. Ensure that the laptop is protected by anti-virus software. A laptop will need to be covered on the school s insurance and it should be stored in a secure place at school when not in use. School may wish to request confirmation regarding the equipment being insured on the home policy and clarify who is responsible for the equipment while at home and between home and school. Practical Considerations - Using a Laptop in the Classroom If pupils are using a laptop all the time, they will need to learn how to organise their files electronically. It is good practice to include the date and subject in file names, for example: Biology 2008 01 16 filename.doc as this can help to find files when a laptop holds a lot of information. It is also good practice to use folders for different subjects/topics. Laptops take time to start up and shut down; extra time is needed at the beginning and end of a lesson to allow for this. Laptops will not maintain a charge for an entire day so a school needs to take into consideration where and when a laptop can be recharged for a pupil. If it is possible to run the laptop from a mains power supply during some lessons this could solve the issue. Pupils will need efficient keyboard skills and knowledge of keyboard shortcuts; this may need to be taught as part of wave 3 provision. Some types of software are particularly useful for certain areas of the curriculum, however there are some important considerations: If a pupil is using screen readers, how will this affect the rest of the class? Consider whether a student will need to use headphones at this time.
Ergonomic Considerations Time will need to be allocated to preparing resources such as grids. Pupils will need time to learn how to use functions within software. Laptops can provide an excellent versatile way of using technology, however there are associated risks. It is important to maintain good posture to avoid physical strain. A A pupil's back should be supported when using a laptop. B A pupil's feet should be supported on the floor or by a footrest. C A pupil needs to have their wrists and hands supported on the table. Pupils need to ensure that their wrists and hands are kept straight, some pupils many need additional wrist support from a wrist rest to help prevent associated difficulties. D The screen needs to be at a good height and angle, to do this rest the laptop on a sloped surface e.g. laptop ramp, writing slope, file or angled desk. This will help prevent neck or eye problems. Training and Support for Staff and Parents A laptop is best used in conjunction with strategies and support from teachers, support staff and parents. It is essential that support staff have the time to train themselves on how to get the most out of the equipment. Staff and parents should both be included in training and made aware of ongoing support available thereafter.