Computing
Overview
The Computing Curriculum acknowledges that computational devices and software are a part of everyday life and that civilised society is becoming increasingly reliant on technology to guide practice and developments.
Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching Computing, we equip children to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology.
It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to use information in a discriminating and effective way.
Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative, safe, resilient and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
As children progress through the Computing Curriculum, explicit links and connections are made to support children to continually build upon the knowledge and skills they have accumulated in previous year groups. The sequence of learning builds childrens’ understanding of how computers and a range of computational systems work, and how they are designed and programmed.
In the EYFS, opportunities for the use of technology are an integral part of each area of learning and our school ensures that children have access to both continuous and enhanced provision. Children have access to remote controlled toys and programmable toys throughout the curriculum to enhance specific areas. The children use the class IWB to practise their hand-eye coordination and use a one-handed tool whilst having fun. They use the interactive whiteboard to develop their gross motor control and coordination. Children use a range of websites and software that are age-appropriate. For example digital tools for writing, drawing, painting and activities which support all areas of the EYFS.
In KS1, we follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Computing. In line with the Programmes of Study we ensure that all three aspects of the Computing curriculum are taught:
- Computer Science
- understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- create and debug simple programs
- use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- Information Technology
- use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- Digital Literacy
- recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies
- Our school uses a range of resources, including lessons from the 3BM scheme of work.
Children are taught to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. They learn to keep personal information private and grow increasingly more confident to recognise the differences between acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour and how to approach this.
Google Classroom is our key digital platform used to build a link between home and school and to apply skills and knowledge within a figital platform.
Children learn where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content, identifying a range of ways to report concerns about both content and contact.
