Computing

Curriculum Intent: Computing

In response to our mixed-aged classes, our curriculum is implemented on a two-yearly programme (Cycle A and Cycle B). This ensures complete curriculum coverage for our pupils. As children progress throughout the school, they develop their knowledge and skills through a range of topics. By Year 6, all children will have followed our Curriculum Narrative pathway.

Characteristics of a Techie

• Competence to code in a variety of practical and inventive ways, including the application of ideas within other subjects.
• The ability to connect with others safely and respectfully, understanding the need to act within the law with moral and ethical intent.
• An understanding of the connected nature of devices.
• The ability to communicate ideas well by using applications and devices throughout the curriculum.
• The ability to collect, observe and manipulate data effectively.

Implementation

Our approach to the curriculum results in a fun, engaging, and high-quality computing education. Our pupils should be able to organise their knowledge, skills and understanding around the three threshold concepts of the computing curriculum:

Computer Science
Digital Literacy
Information Technology

We have broken these aspects down further into the key concepts of:

Code – developing an understanding of instructions, logic and sequences.
Connect – developing an understanding of how to safely connect with others.
Communicate – using apps to communicate one’s ideas.
Collect – developing an understanding of databases and their uses

Not all Computing lessons take place at the computer. Many of our lessons use unplugged activities, whereby children take part in engaging games, solve puzzles, complete magic tricks and run around.

Lessons include computational thinking techniques (the ideas and principles that underpin how digital technology works) to help understand what the problem is and develop possible solutions. This sits alongside the practical experience of programming.

Using laptops, iPads, Lego WeDo, Robotics and other peripherals, we offer a range of practical and cognitive opportunities to all children. In addition, we use Scratch Maths, a Computing and Mathematics-based curriculum for Upper Key Stage 2 pupils (Years 5 and 6).

Home learning is also supported through children accessing safe and secure websites; such as Times Tables Rockstars and SPaG.com.

Please see our Computing Curriculum Overview SJB which shows the accumulation of knowledge and skills from Years 1 to 6.

Children are growing up in a world with a bigger range of online activities than ever before and it is sometimes very hard for both children and adults to know how to stay safe. Please visit our Online Safety page for information on ways to keep safe online.

Vocabulary

The promotion of a language rich Computing curriculum is essential to the successful acquisition of knowledge and understanding in Computing. Children have access to key knowledge, language and meanings to understand Computing and to use these skills across the curriculum.

Our Computing Vocabulary Overview document identifies key vocabulary to be taught from Year 1 to Year 6. These words are part of a whole host of work aimed at narrowing the vocabulary gap for our children. As a school we aim to expose all children to a broad range of vocabulary and provide them with the skills to use and apply these.