At St. John’s we recognise the importance of teaching our pupils to use the internet safely and positively. Therefore, teaching internet safety is a key part of our computing curriculum. We also offer our pupils the opportunity to use a variety of computer software and coding programmes in order to equip them with the skills and understanding to live and work in a technological world.

Intent

It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary to use information in an effective way. We want children to know more, remember more and understand more in computing so that they leave primary school computer literate.

Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.

We intend to build a computing curriculum that develops pupil’s learning and results in the acquisition of knowledge of the world around them; that ensures all pupils can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation, can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.

Our computing curriculum aims to prepare pupils to live safely in an increasingly digital British society where they can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.

The National Curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

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

Implementation

At St. John’s we use the Teach Computing scheme of work, a clear and effective computing curriculum that provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum.

Teaching and learning facilitates progression across all key stages within the strands of digital literacy, information technology and computer science.

Children have access to the hardware (laptops, iPads) and software that they need to develop knowledge and skills of digital systems and their applications. They also have access to Bee Bots in KS1 and Early Years and Data loggers in KS2. This hardware can be used in other subjects for research or presenting work.

Children will have the opportunity to explore and respond to key issues such as digital communication, cyberbullying, online safety, security, plagiarism and social media.

Wider Curriculum links and opportunities for the safe use of digital systems are considered in cross curricular planning.

The importance of online safety is taught throughout the year with a whole-school focus during Internet Safety Day.

Parents are informed when issues relating to online safety arise and further information/support is provided if required.

As well as opportunities underpinned within the computing curriculum, children will also spend time further exploring the key issues associated with online safety.

Children are assessed at the end of each unit against their knowledge and skills in computing.

Impact

Computing contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, problem solving, independence, observation, prediction and discussion. It allows them opportunities to understand how, why, when and where different forms of technology are used in everyday life.

Computing is included across each year group from Reception to Year 6, with a level of progression that supports and challenges our children so that they develop curious, creative and enquiring minds. We aim to provide our children with the computing skills and knowledge that will enable them to grow up with, learn about and master their understanding of technology in the world around them.

Our curriculum will enable children to be confident users of technology and be able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school. They will have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems and understand the importance of this 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.

Computing in the Early Years

From an early age, children recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. They select and use technology for particular purposes. Encouraging children to speculate on the reasons why things happen or how things work is important when supporting the progression of children’s understanding of the technological world around them.