Computing

Intent

At Mill Lane Primary School we want pupils to be the digital leaders of the future. Technology is everywhere and will play a pivotal part in students’ lives. Therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We want our pupils to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology (especially social media) to model positive use. We recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology and social media is through education. Building our knowledge in this subject will allow pupils to effectively demonstrate their learning through creative use of technology.

We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists who question, invent and implement new technologies.

We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.

Implementation

Our scheme of work for computing is adapted from the ‘Teach Computing’ curriculum and is a broad and balanced computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. This scheme was chosen as it has been created by subject experts and based on the latest pedagogical research. It provides an innovative progression framework where computing content (concepts, knowledge, skills and objectives) has been organised to build year on year to deepen and challenge all of our learners.

 

The curriculum aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. The curriculum can be broken down into 3 strands: computer science, information technology and digital literacy, with the aims of the curriculum reflecting this distinction.

 

The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure all pupils:

  • can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation (computer science)
  • can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems (computer science)
  • can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems (information technology)
  • are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. (digital literacy)

 

In addition to the scheme, Mill Lane Primary School subscribe to Purple Mash, providing all children with access to all of the basic packages and teaching tools both at school and at home. 

 

A key part of implementing our computing curriculum was to ensure that safety of our pupils is paramount. We take online safety very seriously and we aim to give children the necessary skills to keep themselves safe online. Children have a right to enjoy childhood online, to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage.  Our school uses ProjectEVOLVE to teach e-safety and digital citizenship messages to our children in an appropriate, more meaningful and reflective way.  ProjectEVOLVE is maintained and updated with the latest messages in the world of digital media and is based on the UKCIS ‘Education for a Connected World’ (EFACW) that covers knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes across eight strands of our online lives from early years right through to eighteen. These outcomes or competencies are mapped to age and progressive. The statements guide educators as to the areas they should be discussing with children as they develop their use of online technology. 

 

All classes will have a scheduled computing lesson each week but will also be taught computing alongside other curriculum subjects.  At Mill Lane Primary School, we employ a specialist teacher who delivers high quality computing lessons to all of our KS2 children for 1 hour a week who uses a range of apps, tools and equipment to better prepare our children for their future.  Other skills are embedded in everyday teaching and learning throughout school.  Children have access to an iPad or laptop each and they are regularly used to support and develop learning in other curriculum areas.  In KS1 classes, teachers use Teach Computing as a guide and embed skills using a range of apps, tools and equipment.  Children in the Early Years have access to technologies and equipment throughout the day in their setting.

 

To help with our implementation of the computing curriculum we have a variety of hardware available to all teachers and children, including class laptops or iPads.  All of the children are provided with Microsoft Teams accounts and work can be accessed in school or remotely.

 

Both technical and curriculum support is provided by our experts at OneIT.

The children in our nurture class are taught using their own personalised curriculum.  They access a hands-on curriculum that follows the thread of the whole school planning.  Their work is differentiated following assessments using PIVATs and personal assessments.

Impact

Our children enjoy and value Computing and know why they are doing things, not just how. Children will understand and appreciate the value of Computing in the context of their personal wellbeing and the technological, creative and cultural industries and their many career opportunities. Through regular pupil voice we allow learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being.

Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style. We feel the way we implement computing helps children realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on in their next stage of education and beyond. We encourage regular discussions between staff and pupils to best embed and understand this. The way pupils showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work will best show the impact of our curriculum. We also look for evidence of progress through reviewing pupil’s knowledge and skills digitally through tools like Microsoft Teams, Showbie, Evidence Me, Purple Mash and observing learning regularly.  

Progress of our computing curriculum is demonstrated through outcomes and the record of coverage in the process of achieving these outcomes.

 

Documents