WILTSHIRE teachers and education experts shared their expertise at a major school computer conference in Bristol.

Around 500 delegates attended the West of England ICT conference on Wednesday last week to hear about the latest ideas for using computers in the classroom.

Six of the seminars were led by education professionals from Wiltshire.

Ian Baker, E-Learning adviser for Wiltshire County Council, said: "We have a great deal of computing expertise across the county's schools and this is demonstrated by having six speakers.

"There is also a great deal of innovation in how computer technology is being used to help children learn."

Cabinet member for education and county council leader elect, Jane Scott, said: "This is a major conference for the west of England and to have so many speakers from Wiltshire just shows what excellent progress we are making in the best use of computer equipment in the county's schools.

"Computer technology is a key component in the county council's drive to constantly improve education in the county."

Myles Pilling, special educational needs adviser for Wiltshire County Council spoke on how tablet PCs can be used to help children with special educational needs.

Ann Harrison and Susan Jackson, teachers at Shaw Primary School, Melksham, explained the benefits of an outreach project with a local secondary school.

Children from Shaw used computer technology to design a mobile and then saw the components being made in the workshops at George Ward secondary school via videoconference.

Fiona Allen and James Passmore from Corsham Primary School talked of how they used computer technology to reduce teacher workload.

Mark Blackman, Learning co-ordinator for ICT at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham, hosted a seminar on how schools can get the best out of computer equipment suppliers.

Viki Bennett, an early years consultant, and Emma Aspery, an ICT consultant, both from Wiltshire, gave practical advice on how computers can stimulate and extend young children's learning.

Sarah Corbett and Veronika Barody from Pewsey Primary School gave a presentation on the process of moving from a school with three computers shared between seven classes, to researching their options and settling on a network of 16 wireless laptops.

The session then went on to explain how they then integrated the system into school life.