At the beginning of 2001, Roseacre Junior School installed the Viglen Classlink Primary Curriculum package on the server-based network in the ICT Suite. I have been using the software with classes across Key Stage 2. This report is intended to assist primary schools in making a decision about what software to purchase for Key Stages 1 and 2.

	What's included in the the package?
	Installation and hardware requirements
	About the programs: Primary Word Primary Trees Primary Sound Primary CAD Primary Graph Primary Grid Primary Index Primary Paint Primary Logo Data handling applications in Viglen Classlink Conclusion

Viglen supply a CD-ROM containing the software and manuals for all the specific programs. Also included is a comprehensive folder of lesson plans and activities that are matched to the QCA Scheme of Work for ICT. The programs are relatively small in size and do not take up much disk space. This has allowed us to install other CD-ROM based programs and multimedia software without any noticeable loss of performance.

Please note that the Primary Curriculum Software package will not be the only software you will wish to have in school. You will need desktop publishing software and multimedia titles, such as MS Publisher, Textease or PowerPoint.

Note that Viglen will supply you their software regardless of whether or not you have their hardware. This is not always the case with other software/hardware providers.

Installing the software
Classlink Primary Curriculum can be installed on stand alone PC's or across a network. A network administrator or technician would be needed to install the program across a network as there are conflicts with security. However, this is the case for the majority of programs when installed on a network and should by no means dissuade any potential purchase.

The system requirements are an IBM compatible PC P100 or better, with 32 MB of RAM and a CD-ROM drive running windows 95 versions B or C with Internet Explorer 4, windows 98 or windows NT.

Once installed, the programs are placed within Year group folders which enable the children to access the programs at levels that are applicable to their age.

About the programs

Primary Word
Primary Word is a multi-level word processor which is Microsoft Word based (similar to RM's Talking First Word). Primary Word Level 1 is very simple, with the facility to insert pictures and format text but with tools limited to only these functions.

Level 2 considerably increases the formatting options available and also contains an edit menu for more advanced options.

Level 3 looks much the same as Microsoft Word. The buttons and toolbars are smaller, requiring greater precision in their use.

Level 4 is the most sophisticated level. Menus and options within menus are available.

The screen above shows that the toolbars contain easily recognisable icons for anyone familiar with MS Word.

Primary Trees, Branches and Tree Planter
These programs are inter-related. One is a creator and the other a reader of information trees or keys. I have used this program with children, particularly in Science when undertaking work on identification and classification of information, such as minibeasts or pondlife.

Primary Sound
Primary sound has been designed to allow the children to create a sound picture to illustrate a story. It allows children to drag sound resources onto a music sheet and play the sound. The sound picture can be played in a loop, reversed and with the tempo adjusted. This is similar to Compose World and covers the same aspects of the curriculum.

Primary CAD
Primary CAD is a vector drawing package. It has a range of tools that enable children from KS1 up to the end of KS2 to use the product successfully. It can be used with a drawing tablet.

Primary Graph
Primary Graph has two levels which are designed to enable the children to produce charts very quickly, once data has been entered into a table.

Level 1 allows ten pieces of data to be entered and automatically produces a vertical bar chart. From the screen shot below it is possible to see how colourful and appealing the program is at this level.

Level 2 follows on from this, but allows the children to choose different types of charts. This is not Microsoft Excel based but is a useful introduction to spreadsheets.

Primary Grid
Primary Grid is a Microsoft Excel based spreadsheet program, with five levels to provide progression and differentiation. Level 1 takes the skills and concepts learnt in Junior Graph one step further. It allows pupils to sum data and draw data graphs. The highest level has most of the features available in the full version of Microsoft Excel.

Primary Index
Primary Index is a multi-level program designed to enable teachers to use databases across the primary key stages. It introduces the skills necessary for collating, storing and analysing data.

Primary Index levels 1 and 2 allow children to create simple databases.

Level 3 uses a filofax style interface with each section having predefined fields into which the children can enter their own data.

Level 4, enables pupils to create a fully configurable database. They can choose the design of their records and the name of the fields used. This also introduces a range of search tools that include complex queries and Boolean searches.

Click here for a detailed evaluation of Primary Index

Primary Paint
This is a painting and drawing program that provides increasing levels of complexity from level 1 through to level 5.

Level 1 is very simple allowing colouring and text. Buttons are large and the right button click does not work. This is intended for use with Infants.

The tools and options are increased in level 2, but all the additions are still available through large buttons.

Level 3 introduces a toolbar and an increased number of new tools for more sophisticated drawing and painting.

Level 4 is an advanced painting package.

Level 5 introduces drop down menus, in a similar way to mainstream software packages. The children can operate the program through buttons and menus.

Primary LOGO
Primary LOGO comes in three levels. Level 1 is for use with Infants with movements simply controlled by clicking with the mouse.

Level 2 introduces basic LOGO language and enables the children to write simple procedures.

Level 3 is a complete LOGO program with all the features that you would find on other powerful LOGO programs.

Conclusion
All the programs are colourful, clearly set out and have user friendly screens. Two are Microsoft Office based (Primary Word and Primary Grid.) The children have enjoyed using them and although they do contain some glitches, the software was relatively easy to integrate into the ICT curriculum. This was helped by the Year group folders into which the programs are placed.

Do not, however, expect to run a program and know what to do with it without reading through the supplied manuals. This does take time and it is imperative that teachers wishing to use them practice and work through the activities provided, themselves. This will ensure that lessons remain trouble free and enjoyable for both the children and the teacher.

All classes enjoyed working through the activities. Although the programs do show some design faults, all the children were able, some with help from parent helpers/ LSAs, to produce well-presented work for their portfolios or for their class teachers to use in displays. The programs are designed to match the QCA/ NC requirements.

Having now used the software for some time I recommend considering Classlink Primary Curriculum as a solution for the Primary School, to add to, or purchase alongside other software. I hope that the information here can save others the time that I spent overcoming some of the software's minor glitches.