Computing

To offer a wide variety of learning opportunities that develop children’s computing skills, that foster our school values, (name school values) whilst developing and nurturing their thinking and learning skills that will equip them as global citizens within an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of ICT is of increasing importance for children’s future both at home and for employment.

Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. Computing also supports children’s creativity and cross curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school.

We want our children to read and interact with a variety of software, we aim for our children to recognise the value of basic skills to navigate around a computer, including turning on a device or logging in to a desired account and using these skills as the foundation of learning and develop their computational thinking. We want our children to be fascinated and curious enough to ask and answer questions through a mixture of adult led and self-directed learning by considering the big question and developing a growth mindset through all experiences they encounter.

Our Computing curriculum is based on the skills and knowledge of the National Curriculum ensuring it is applicable to our pupils and linking with resources that are available to the school. It is composed of Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Literacy and compliments E-Safety which is taught as part of our PSHE and RSE curriculum.
Computing skills are taught both discretely and across the curriculum, supporting other areas of learning across the school. The majority of the curriculum is taught through Purple Mash, which has a comprehensive range of software which helps children to interact with a variety of software.
In Reception and Key Stage 1, children are taught to use equipment and software confidently and purposefully, to communicate and handle information and to support their problem-solving, recording and expressive skills.

In Key Stage 2, our children extend their use of computing that they use for communication, investigation and programming and work to understand how to communicate safely. Our planned curriculum for digital literacy that includes online safety is broad in covering a range of issues including understanding current issues such as ‘fake news’ and ‘body image’. We have a Computer suite, laptop trolleys and a small bank of Ipads.