Computing

Computing Curriculum Statement

“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don't really even notice it, so it's part of everyday life.”

Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft

Intent 

At Crow Orchard Primary School, we want our children to be masters of technology.  Technology is everywhere and plays a pivotal role in the children’s lives.  Therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely.  We want our students to be creators and our broad and balanced curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this.  The use of Purple Mash Computing allows us to do this. We want our students to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a result, we use technology to model positive use.

We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunities for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively, which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists.

We have eight key priorities at Crow Orchard Primary School that underpin every subject area. We believe that by focusing on these key priorities our children will be ready to successfully meet the challenges of the next stage of their education and their lives.

Implementation
 

What does it look like?

We have recently introduced Purple Mash throughout the school. This has helped to create a progression document for teachers to follow to best embed and cover all the elements of the computing curriculum. The knowledge and skills build on year by year to deepen and challenge our learners.

Early years:

It is important in the Early Years stage of schooling to give children a broad, play based experience of computing in a range of contexts, including outdoor play. Children in the Early Years, experience a wide range of technologies throughout their play including; iPads, computers, cameras, Beebots and interactive whiteboards. They use these forms of technologies to access age-appropriate software, to provide opportunities for mark making as well as supporting their imaginative play, often re-enacting real life experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. Children thrive on the ability to incorporate technology into their learning and through careful planning of their continuous provision, Early Years practitioners are able to provide a number of devices for children to use competently and independently, to support child led learning. In addition to this, technology is a fantastic tool to enable children to build confidence, control and improve language development through specific online programs. Recording devices can support children to develop their communication and language skills further as well as building simple IT skills. This is particularly useful with children who have English as an additional language or children who struggle to communicate effectively.

Key Stage 1 and 2:

Here at Crow Orchard Primary School, we ensure that sufficient time is given to Computing, in order to enable pupils to meet the expectations set out in the National Curriculum programme of study. Our Computing curriculum we use help us to show progression.  The National Curriculum for computing aims to ensure:

In Key Stage 1 pupils are taught to:

• Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and those programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
• Create and debug simple programs
• Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
• Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content 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.

In Key Stage 2 pupils are taught to:

• Design, write and debug 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
• Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work 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
• Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
• Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact

Wider curriculum:

• Opportunities for applying skills and the safe use of digital systems through many curriculum subjects and through extra-curricular provision are provided.

Safer Internet Day:

As well as opportunities within the scheme of work, children will also spend time further exploring the key issues associated with online safety. Every child actively participates in a range of activities linked to being safe with technology during our ‘Crow Orchard e-Safety Day’.

Impact 

At Crow Orchard Primary School, we want our Computing provision to impact our children in the ways listed below. We encourage our children to enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We want learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and wellbeing.  Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style.  We want our children to become-

• Confident users of technology, able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school.
• Children will have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems. This is important in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving.
• Children will be able to apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems.

We monitor the impact of our Computing provision through reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes.  We assess using the Purple Mash Assessment sheets.  We also have discussions with our children; work is saved on to the shared drive and onto the Purple Mash Individual accounts and a floor book is created with saved worksheets and examples of work.  Photographs of children working are shared with parents using Seesaw.

The Computing subject champion is: Mrs Denise Heath

Useful Links

https://www.purplemash.com/sch/crow-wn8

Children have individual logs in for Purple Mash

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zyhbwmn

https://scratch.mit.edu/

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