Our children live in an increasingly interconnected and technological world. The curriculum is designed to enable children to become confident, competent, responsible and active digital citizens with a clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe online and with the skills to not only help them to solve problems using technology but to prepare them for the next stage of their education and future workplace.
In Computing the children’s work is based around three core strands:
Computer Science
This is the core of Computing and includes the development of an understanding of fundamental principles and concepts including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. This knowledge is used to analyse problems in computational terms and to write computer programs to solve them. It also includes an understanding of how computer networks work;
Information Technology
Information Technology is the use of a variety of hardware and software, including Purple Mash and Google Suite, to create, present and share digital content (including Music, images, videos, spreadsheets, presentations and documents) for a variety of audiences including individual and collaborative working.
The broad and balanced curriculum offered means that these opportunities are built into other curriculum areas as well.
Digital Literacy including Staying Safe Online
The increase in digital communication means that it is essential that children can communicate both safely and responsibly online. This includes children being able to recognise the immense benefits technology offers but also being able to recognise the risks and how best to tackle any issues that arise. E-Safety forms a core part of Digital Literacy.
Aims of Computing
- To confidently use the principles and concepts of Computer Science to have repeated practical experience of creating and debugging their own algorithms in order to solve problems;
- To enable learners to be able to confidently, competently and safely create and share content appropriately using a variety of software and devices;
- To enable learners to be able to use, express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communications technology
- To enable learners to be able to use technology and the online environment safely and competently and to become responsible digital citizens.
By the end of Key Stage 1 all pupils will be able to:
- Understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following a sequence of instructions.
- Write and test simple programs.
- Use logical reasoning to predict and computing the behaviour of simple programs.
- Organise, store, manipulate and retrieve data in a range of digital formats.
- Communicate safely and respectfully online, keeping personal information private, and recognise common uses of information technology beyond school.
By the end of Key Stage 2 all pupils will be able to:
- Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts.
- Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output; generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs.
- Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.
- Understand computer networks including the Internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world-wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. Describe how Internet search engines find and store data; use search engines effectively; be discerning in evaluating digital content; respect individuals and intellectual property; use technology responsibly, securely and safely.
- Select, use and combine a variety of software (including Internet services) on a range of digital devices to accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
Implementation
Lessons will be delivered in classrooms and each child will have access to a Chromebook. All children have their own unique username and password and have to sign into the School network.
All work online is monitored by SENSO Cloud software which screenshots and reports any content of concern. Chromebooks also have appropriate firewall and anti-virus software installed.
Learners will use software contained on the Purple Mash Online Learning Platform and are able to access this at home should they wish to practice their skills. In Key Stage 2 children will move onto using the Google Suite of software.
Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
All children with SEND will have equal access and opportunities within the curriculum. The School will support these children to ‘catch up’, ‘keep up’ and experience success in the following ways (where appropriate):
- High quality teaching each day through Ordinarily Available Provision (formerly Quality First Teaching);
- Opportunities for pre-learning (particularly new vocabulary) before lessons;
- Appropriately scaffolded or differentiated work or materials;
- Classrooms and materials set up to reduce cognitive load and follow dyslexia friendly strategies;
- Children with SEND have a Pupil Passport which identifies approaches and strategies to be used which will help them to succeed;
- For children with Education, Health and Care Plans there may be 1:1 adult support in lessons.
The School recognises that while a child may have additional needs in one area of the curriculum they may well have skills and talents which allow them to shine and be successful in another and this is to be celebrated.
To view the Computing Curriculum Map please Click Here