Computing

As Computing underpins today’s modern lifestyle it is essential that all pupils gain the confidence and ability that they need in this subject to prepare them for the challenge of a rapidly developing and changing technological world. 

The use of Computing will enhance and extend children’s learning across the whole curriculum while developing motivation and social skills.

Intention

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.

Computing has a broad cross-curricular coverage and skills learned carry over to nearly all the other subjects on the national curriculum. For example in addtion to using computing skills and technology to create new work or to make a digital copy of art/writing/science research, it also links heavily with Design and Technology  due to the interaction with physical systems.

Implementation

Digital literacy forms the backbone of the computing curriculum at Pear Tree Primary School.  Children should develop computing skills that can be thoughtfully applied in a range of different situations, with children developing increasing independence in the choices they make over which technology to use to help them reach the desired outcome.   As they progress through KS1 and KS2 children will become increasing confident in the application of their digital skills, becoming increasingly efficient and effective communicators, collaborators and analysts, showing imagination and creativity in their use of computing in different aspects of their learning and life beyond school. 

The development of digital literacy is underpinned through expectation that computing skills and objects areas applied across all curriculum subjects.

Skills   

Children should be provided with the opportunity to learn, refine and improve their digital skills, across the range of computing curriculum areas outlined above. 

Technology in the world 

Children should develop an understanding of how technology makes a difference in all aspects of life- at home, at school and in the workplace, as well as considering the impact technology has had on society over the years.  

Children will, for example, identify the different elements of a webpage (EYFS), develop an awareness of how different technology is used in the world around us (KS1) and begin to evaluate web pages, software and applications and use this evaluation in the planning of their own digital content (KS1 KS2)

Technical understanding 

Children should develop the knowledge and understanding of how technology works. 

This extends from an awareness that there is ‘something inside’ a piece of technology to make it work (EYFS), progressing through KS1 and KS2 to children creating their own simple programs including games, utilities and applications with exposure to computer code and scripts. 

Also in KS2 we teach coding to control real world devices, electrical components and connect to various forms of input and output. 

Safe and Responsible Use (e-safety)

E-safety is a fundamental element of computing teaching and technology use at Pear Tree Primary School.  The school has a separate E-Safety policy, and E-Safety sessions should take place regularly in each year group as part of both ICT and PSHE sessions.

We've held Internet Safety evenings for families to come and join in for advice on safe internet usage at home, as well as regular advice and updates for parents about being safe online.

Impact

Following a curriculum map that links KS1 and KS2 National Curriculum targets to lesson plans allows a clear path of progression across the school. Many of the lesson plans are adaptable to topics or subjects that are being taught in other subjects. The lesson plans are added to and adapted as we get access to newer equipment and techology and are therefore constantly evolving like the diverse subject that ICT is.

e-Safety

For help and advice on keeping children safe online, check out our Home Internet Safety document at the bottom of the page, and our Online & Social Media Safety page.