Digital Technology
Vision
For digital technology to be confidently used as a tool in Early Years settings to improve outcomes for learners.
CHILDREN
We want children in Early Years to use digital technology confidently as a tool to support their learning as part of their Early Years experience. The meaningful and appropriate use of digital technology at this stage of a child’s development will cultivate their natural curiosity and enhance their experience of high quality Early Years Pedagogy.
PRACTITIONERS
We want to reduce barriers for practitioners & raise confidence levels with Digital Technology so they can use it to enable them to support and extend learning, reduce workload, work more efficiently, and effectively.
What is Inspire Learning?
The Inspire Learning programme is a £16m investment in a world class digital 
learning environment for all pupils. The project has been developed by a partnership of Scottish Borders Council, CGI, XMA and Apple. The programme is a key part of our Digital Learning Strategy and transform teaching and learning in our schools for the benefit of children and young people now, and into the future.
This programme is aimed at raising attainment and supporting equity and inclusion for all children and young people. It is about investing in the learning of our young people and putting them at the heart of education, improving outcomes and success for all. The effective deployment of digital technology in schools will ensure our children and young people develop a level of general and specialist digital skills that are vital for learning, life and work in an increasingly digital world. It is not about having an iPad as a device but how we use the tools it offer to enhance learning, teaching and assessment.
The appropriate and effective use of digital technology within education will give all of our learners the opportunity to improve their educational outcomes and to develop digital skills that will be vital for life, learning and work in today’s increasingly digitised world.
What is Early Years Pedagogy?
Realising the Ambition is Scotland’s National Guidance to support practitioners in
the Early Years and is based on child development research and evidence. It weaves together the huge amount of experiences young children should have and gives guidance around child-centred pedagogy in practice. Realising the Ambition states that “Child-centred play pedagogy starts from the children. Child-centred play pedagogy requires us to take the lead from the children. This approach actively responds to the individual and constantly changing needs of a young child. A young child’s voice is interpreted by our observations of their actions, emotions and words. These observations are central to assessment and inform us what children need.” (Realising the Ambition, Education Scotland, 2020, p. 46)
