A PROJECT aimed at inspiring the next generation of digital entrepreneurs has been launched at Cadoxton Primary School in Barry.

The national Barefoot Computing project aims to help primary school teachers get to grips with computing so they can inspire and excite pupils, aged from five, about the world of IT.

Welsh primary schools are encouraged to sign up following Welsh Government, cabinet secretary for education, Kirsty Williams’ launch on Wednesday, April 5.

The initiative is funded and led by BT, which has worked closely with the Welsh Government to ensure resources for the project in Wales are closely aligned to the digital competence framework (DCF) and are available bilingually via the Hwb digital learning platform.

Ms Williams visited Cadoxton Primary School to see a Barefoot workshop in action and unveiled the new online resources for teachers, which have been tailored to the Welsh curriculum in both 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.

The resources focus on concepts such as algorithms, abstraction, programming and data structures and provide ideas on how they can be used in the classroom.

Ms 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. I am therefore delighted to launch these free-to-use, creative resources which perfectly illustrate how digital skills can be integrated into the Welsh curriculum.”

Every primary school head teacher in Wales will be contacted by the Barefoot team to highlight the new resources, which have already won acclaim from teachers elsewhere in the UK.

Pupils and practitioners in Wales can access the bilingual materials at hwb.wales.gov.uk.

Schools will soon be able request a workshop to demonstrate how the resources and lesson plans can be used.