COMPUTING

Computing curriculum statement

INTENT

Computing teaching at Somerford Primary School aims to prepare children for an ever-changing digital world. Through the computing curriculum children will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that will equip them for the rest of their digital lives. Our curriculum is underpinned by our school values, Enjoy, Achieve, Aspire. 

Through our computing curriculum we aim to empower children with essential digital skills and an understanding of technology so they can develop and achieve beyond the school gates whilst having the awareness of what it means to be a responsible and safe digital citizen. Computing at Somerford is taught equitably, all children, regardless of specific challenges some of our children face, have access to high quality computing lessons with adaptations made to suit the needs of the individual children.

 We aspire for our children to become independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their digital activities.  We aim for all children regardless of levels of disadvantage to be digitally literate and use this effectively in their future lives.

IMPLEMENTATION

At Somerford we have adopted the Twinkl Planit scheme of work to form the basis of our computing curriculum. All year groups teach the online safety unit in Autumn One and at the beginning of every other term at least one computing lesson should be used to further support their understanding of online safety, alternative sources for these lessons are encouraged and they should be planned in response to individual classes needs.  Subsequent terms are planned carefully ensuring progression through the curriculum but also ensuring equal time is dedicated to the three main strands of Computing; Computer science, Information technology and Digital literacy.

Every lesson is taught using the ‘I do, We do, You do’ approach using assessment for learning as the children progress through the unit. This allows for the children to receive expert instruction and practice but also to apply what skills they have acquired independently. In EYFS and KS1 the focus is on exploring and developing the basic skills needed to use technology safely and purposefully.  They will also begin to explore the concept of algorithms and begin to experiment using them. In KS2 children will develop their knowledge of computer networks and internet services.  They will also further develop their knowledge of programming and coding. Each unit is taught discretely over half a term using class based laptops.

IMPACT

Learning in computing will be enjoyed across the school. children will acquire the key knowledge and skills that they will be able to build on in the future lives. In order to ensure this knowledge is retained teachers will plan for spaced practice and retrieval opportunities.  Whilst this will often occur within a computing lesson, some key skills and knowledge will be practised in other areas of the curriculum.

The impact of computing at Somerford will be measured in a variety of ways for example, pupil voice and low stake quizzes but ultimately the impact will be shown through the children confidence to use a range of hardware and software and production of high quality, purposeful products.  Children will see the digital world as something they are part of, which will extend beyond primary education.