Computing

Intent

At Staincliffe C of E Junior School, we provide all of our children with a high-quality education in computing which provides access to an ever changing and expanding digital world. The core of computing is split into 3 aspects; Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology. Pupils are taught through iPads and interactive whiteboards, allowing them to continually practice and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to show courage and express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology– at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

We develop the joy of computing and provide children with computer skills to enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding through different types of media in other subjects whilst keeping safety and trust in others, at the forefront of their minds.

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in computing, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Our skills-focussed computing curriculum is delivered through the Purple Mash software and its lesson sequence adapted to the needs of each child. Alongside classroom based learning, we use a variety of online learning and apps to enhance our children’s learning experiences in other subjects to aid their learning.

Our curriculum follows the national curriculum and teaches pupils 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

To track the progress of our digital learners, we:

• Use Knowledge Organisers which outline knowledge including vocabulary all children must master and apply in each lesson and the topic.
• Recap previous learning at the beginning of every lesson.
• Capture ‘Pupil Voice’ at regular intervals
• Use the comment section to assess work.

Impact

By the time they leave us, as digital learners, our children will have:

• Competence in coding for a variety of practical and inventive purposes, 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 and with moral and ethical integrity.
• 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, organise and manipulate data effectively.

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with our curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress and support is put in place for those working towards the curriculum objectives through staff support.

Please click here for our Computing 'Progression of Knowledge and Skills' document.