Computing

Intent

At Middleton St Mary’s CE (VC) Primary School, we understand that computing is a vital part of children’s lives and that we need to prepare our pupils for an unknown technological future. Computing is an integral part of the national curriculum and is a key skill for everyday life. Computing has deep links with literacy, mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. At Middleton St Mary’s, we aim to:

• Provide pupils with the opportunity to develop computing skills to enhance and extend their learning in other areas of the curriculum
• Ensure equality of access to computing resources, skills and techniques regardless of Special Educational Needs, race, gender and religion
• Give pupils the opportunity to enjoy computing and to feel proud of their achievements
• Enable pupils to become increasingly confident and skilful users of computing whilst also encouraging their understanding of its limitations and implications for the future
• Ensure pupils understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• Support pupils to analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
• Ensure pupils evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• Be responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Implementation

The Computing Programme of Study in the National Curriculum puts a clear emphasis on four areas of learning:

• Computer science - how computers work and how to write algorithms and solve problems to eventually create a computer program;
• Information Technology - how data is represented and managed on computers;
• Digital Literacy - how to understand digital information and interact with it safely and appropriately.
• Digital Safety

At Middleton St Mary’s CE (VC) Primary School, KS1 and KS2 pupils are taught computing with specific, timetabled lessons in our suite or on Chromebooks, covering the objectives from the National Curriculum. These lessons are linked to topic themes wherever possible. Computing can cover many aspects, but are not limited to computer use. Many ‘unplugged’ activities also contribute to their entitlement. Purple Mash is used throughout school and also lends itself to cross-curricular aspects of computing that can be used to enhance pupil’s learning and experiences. Pupils have the opportunity to use computing within the classroom across a range of subjects using a range of technology resources, such as computers, i-pads and Chromebooks.

Lessons are planned using the National Curriculum Programme of Study and enhanced by Purple Mash to promote a greater depth of understanding, developing of skills, contextual application of these skills and the ability to perform reflectively. Pupils will be presented with opportunities to be creative and co-operative and to face challenges and solve problems in all aspects of computing. These may take the form of ‘unplugged’ activities. They will learn how to think in different ways to suit the different challenges, receiving opportunities to demonstrate their learning across a range of skills, allowing for effective assessment. This assessment will be used to inform planning and promote greater learning.