The Junior and Senior Infants of Court NS have been selected by IBM and the National Centre for Technology in Education to take part in the Kidsmart Early Learning Programme. Accordingly their classroom has been kitted out with a Little Tikes Explorer unit, an IBM computer and monitor, a separate IBM mini-mouse and a Hewlett Packard colour printer plus educational software, donated free of cost to the children.

As part of their commitment to revolutionise education through technology, IBM joined with children's toy maker "Little Tikes" to develop the "Young Explorer" - a specially designed unit to fit into the early learning environment, allowing two children to work together on high quality educational software from Edmark. Each donation consists of a Young Explorer playstation and bench, an IBM multi-media computer, Edmark educational software and a colour printer. IBM has also developed a KidSmart web site (http://www.kidsmartearlylearning.org) to promote sharing of effective practices amongst teachers and engage parents in their children's learning,

The KidSmart web site is a guide to early learning and technology that features a section just for parents, consisting of three parts: how to use a computer to encourage early learning in your home, how to make the computer a part of your household routine, and how to make sure the computer serves your child. These areas offer solid advice and activities. The site also offers classroom support for teachers and recognising the diversity of nationalities in Ireland. The web site is also available in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.

Principal Majella Murphy and parents of the children in the Infants classroom were delighted with their new acquisition and as class members used the unit for the first time Majella said that “The IBM learning centre is so child friendly child-friendly it provides a powerful learning tool which is accessible, sturdy and easy to use. It strongly appeals to pupils and has proven to be highly motivational. We are delighted to have been awarded the unit and commend IBM on their foresight in including smaller schools, so often the poor relation of all educational decision-making, in their wonderful scheme. This will compliment the excellent IT facilities already available the school, facilities largely provided for by the generosity of our parents and teachers! "