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Catrine Early Childhood Centre has secured a first in Scotland, by earning their Digital Schools Award for Early Years. The Digital Schools Award is a national award scheme designed to promote, recognise and encourage a whole centre approach to the use of digital technology. Digital Schools Award Scotland presented the ECC with their award, praising the exceptional and sector-leading work, driven forward by Depute Manager Alana Speirs, STEM Champion Sherrie Devlin and Head Teacher Judith Govans. Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and Children and Young People, was joined at Catrine ECC by Councillors Douglas Reid, Maureen McKay, Linda Holland, Alyson Simmons, Claire Leitch and William Lennox, Chief Executive Eddie Fraser and Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, Linda McAulay-Griffiths to learn more about their Early Years Digital Schools journey. Sherrie gave a fascinating presentation and held a question and answer session. She spoke of the importance of promoting STEM throughout the ECC, supporting staff to use new technologies and about the way the children have embraced technology, increasing confidence and independence. A really interesting development was the use of QR Codes around the ECC. The staff create the QR Codes, then the children can use their chrome books or i-Pads to learn independently about topics that interest them, for example they are learning more about dinosaurs at the moment. Councillor Cowan said: “I found the visit to Catrine Early Childhood Centre fascinating. We learned so much about the role of technology and what can be achieved within our ECCs with knowledge and passion. I was very pleased to hear that the parents and carers have been very supportive of the developments and that they particularly enjoy the online Learning Journals. “I was so impressed by Sherrie and Alana’s presentation but that was nothing to actually joining the children for play and learning. I played shops, did some colouring in and some very enthusiastic children taught me how to make a short film, using a green screen background. It was incredible, their confidence and skill actually took me aback. I can’t congratulate Head Teacher Judith Govans and her whole team enough. The ECC is such a positive learning environment, as was highlighted by their recent inspection by the Care Inspectorate, where they scored ‘very good’ across all four categories; the children are happy, confident and officially the best in Scotland!” Head Teacher Judith Govans said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole team at Catrine Early Childhood Centre and particularly Alana Speirs, our Depute Manager, and Sherrie Devlin, our STEM Champion – together they have worked so hard to demonstrate our Early Years Digital journey and earn our award. “They have changed perceptions of technology for our staff and parents and carers, and have led the way in Scotland in this curricular area. Thanks to their effort, Digital Schools Award Scotland will now be developing a framework specifically for Early Childhood Centres. Moving forward, we are committed to continuing our Early Years Digital Schools journey and finding new ways to challenge and create positive learning opportunities for our children, for example the children have already started learning how to code. We are also committed to supporting colleagues who wish to work towards their own Early Years Digital Award.”

Roseburn Primary School are delighted with our Digital Schools Award, and so pleased to have our digital journey positively recognised. This has inspired us to continue to reflect, refine and progress our digital strategy.  Our Award is now displayed on our achievement wall, and school website. Thank you.

Kirkcolm, Leswalt, and Portpatrick Primaries are jointly the first schools in the Dumfries and Galloway authority to be awarded the prestigious Digital Schools Award Endorsement Award.  Having previously achieved the Digital Schools Award together, we were invited to submit for this new award.  The accolade is an endorsement of the three schools continuing excellence and development in digital learning and teaching. In order to achieve the award our schools were required to evidence a continuing journey of self-reflection and development in digital learning and teaching.  There were six key criterion that had to be met; namely: Professional Learning, Learning and Teaching, Innovation, Leadership & Vision, Managing Challenges and Resources & Infrastructure Validator Malcolm Wilson of Digital Schools Award commented that: It is a privilege to have undertaken the validation process for the Kirkcolm, Leswalt and Portpatrick Partnership of schools to confirm the Endorsement Award to the Digital Schools Award. The schools demonstrated, through their continuing development of effective and varied digital learning and teaching, an understanding of what it means to be digitally literate schools. We are committed to supporting our children to be develop the skills for learning, life and work in today’s technologically advancing world.

“Our children, staff and families are very proud to have achieved the Digital Schools Awards Scotland in recognition of our digital learning journey. We are excited to share our good news with our wider community and continue to learn and grow while supporting others as a mentor school.” Ashley Walker (nee Lonie),  Quarry View Nursery, Dundee

Tayview Primary are delighted to be award the Digital Schools Award. We have worked hard to ensure that digital technology is embedded within our curriculum at Tayview. Our learners really enjoyed showcasing their digital learning experience as part of the validation process. Callum Hay, Acting Principal  Teacher, Tayview Primary School 

“Receiving our Digital Schools Endorsement award is perhaps even more exciting than achieving our original award in 2021!  This award recognises our ongoing dedication and commitment to, as well as our enthusiasm for, ensuring that the curriculum and tools offered to children within East Calder Primary School embraces the most up-to-date digital technologies effectively; develops computer science and data literacy skills in our children; and consistently supports and enhances children’s learning experiences.” Fiona Stewart, Headteacher, East Calder Primary

“Achieving the Digital Schools Award has been a hugely rewarding experience for everyone involved. Learners have developed and showcased their knowledge and skills, teachers have collaborated and benefited from the expertise of one another, and, in turn, the school has become a more digital and innovative community.” Hamish Munro Bun-sgoil Goodlyburn Goodlyburn Primary School

Following Noblehill Primary Schools successful achievement of the Digital Schools Award in 2022, they are delighted to announce that following a successful verification process in October of this year, they have now been awarded the Digital Well Being Award. This Award for Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety is designed to provide education professionals with the resources and support required to help pupils safely navigate the digital world. Schools that successfully complete the programme receive a nationally recognised award by Education Scotland. This is a fantastic achievement for the school as the award recognises that digital wellbeing and cyber resilience/ internet safety skills are being embedded throughout the school. Well done to all our staff and pupils for their hard work throughout the process.

Newmains Primary is delighted to announce that, after a successful validation visit, we have received the Digital Schools Award. During our visit our staff and pupils demonstrated how the use of digital technology is used to enhance the curriculum, deliver high quality learning and teaching and to provide equity in accessing learning at Newmains PS. Our pupil digital leads have been vital in supporting our digital journey, not only helping with device management, but also in supporting staff and pupils during ICT lessons. They were awarded with certificates, recognising the important work they do. Some of our pupils were able to talk about how the use of assistive digital technology, such as speech to text, supports them in accessing the curriculum. Our pupils also shared what they have learned in ICT lessons and how these skills can used in the future. Our teaching staff were enthusiastic in sharing how digital approaches have increased engagement and had a positive impact on learning, teaching and assessment. Our teachers have engaged in a variety of CPD opportunities and have upskilled themselves significantly in the use of digital technologies, particularly since the need for remote learning. We are delighted to be recognised as a digital school and we are committed to continually providing digital approaches to meet the needs of our learners and to provide the high quality learning and teaching opportunities our children deserve. Mrs M Brown (Principal Teacher) Newmains Primary, Wishaw Newmains Primary Digital schools award press release

On Tuesday 28th June 2022 Heathhall Primary School were awarded their Digital Schools Award!   Digital Schools Awards is a national awards scheme to promote, recognise and encourage a whole school approach to the use of digital technology in schools. Schools that successfully complete the programme receive a nationally recognised award by Education Scotland. In order to achieve this award Heathhall School has worked very hard at incorporating Digital technologies across all areas of the curriculum. During the validation interview it was commented that ‘Digital technologies are used to enhance and extend learning experiences and to foster independent learning within and beyond the school.’ It was noted that Young Digital Leaders were able to enhance pupil and staff confidence and that the school worked well at enhancing digital communication with parents and the wider community. While working towards the award the Young Digital Leaders at Heathhall have developed their digital literacy skills and have shared this with other pupils and teachers across the school. They have developed their knowledge and understanding of different software used throughout the school and have enjoyed experimenting with new resources which have been acquired. More information about what is happening at Heathhall can be found on the school website. https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/dg/heathhallschool/ Heathhall Young Digital Leaders Heathhall Primary School gives children in the Upper School a chance to become Young Digital Leaders. As Young Digital Leaders we are here to help children and teachers learn more about technology. We teach a wide range of skills in ICT. To be a Young Digital Leader, we must complete an application form on why we would like to be a Digital Leader, what experience we have had before with computers that would make us a good Digital Leader and strengths and skills we have that can help us in this job. After a discussion with our teachers, we vote for who we believe should be the Young Digital Leaders for the year. The Young Digital Leaders attend an after-school club with Mrs Brown to learn new skills and work with new resources. This can range from Scratch, all the way up to various Microsoft applications and computer robots such as Botleys and Move Minis.  The Young Digital Leaders then prepare lessons and take the place of the teacher to teach the class a new skill. They are then able to work alongside teachers to develop everyone’s skills. Our aim is to help people get better and enjoy ICT as much as we do. -Alex Leed and Tyree Dyson P7 Young Digital Leaders