Project to boost IT skills
A NEW national project to boost computing skills among Welsh primary school children has been launched.
The Barefoot Computing project in Wales aims to help primary school teachers get to grips with computing so they can teach and inspire pupils aged from five about IT.
The initiative is funded and led by BT, which has worked closely with the Welsh Government to align it to the Digital Competence Framework.
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams launched the scheme on a visit to Cadoxton Primary, Barry, where she unveiled new online resources for teachers, which have been tailored to the Welsh curriculum in English and Welsh.
The free, bilingual, downloadable resources and lesson plans are targeted to help primary school teachers across Wales, some of whom may not have specialist computing knowledge.
Kirsty Williams said: “Since becoming Education Secretary, one of my key priorities has been to raise the aspirations for all our children and young people, broadening horizons and developing ambition so that all can achieve. The DCF is an important milestone in achieving this goal as it provides the fundamental skills our children need in the modern world.”
Every primary school head teacher in Wales will be contacted by the Barefoot team to highlight the new resources. More than one million primary school pupils across the UK have already benefited from Barefoot since being launched by BT in 2014.