Computing

Computing is taught as a discreet subject and a cross curricular tool; the children are encouraged to use their ICT skills within all curriculum areas in order to enhance and develop their work.

Our aim is prepare all children for the fast changing world of technology that we live in and children are taught to be aware of all aspects of e-safety. Please fill out the questionnaire in the News section under Esafety.

There is a vast availability of equipment from computers, laptops, iPads and Apple Macs so children can learn, explore and create within this area of the curriculum.

Computing Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Fens Primary School, our Computing intent is to promote computational thinking and digital creativity. A high-quality computing curriculum equips children to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.

We want our children to develop the foundations to enable them to be discerning, life-long learners in a fast-moving landscape. We want to develop and encourage children's experience and understanding of ICT, preparing them for jobs of the future. (Pupils will use technology safely and identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns).

Implementation

Computing is taught using a blocked curriculum approach with discrete lessons taught across a half-term, this ensures children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each of their computing units. The Computing scheme is used as a starting point for the planning of computing lessons, which can be richly linked to engaging contexts in other subjects and topics.

The school has a dedicated computing suite, laptops, tablets and interactive touchscreens to ensure that all year groups have the opportunity to use a range of devices and programs for many purposes across the wider curriculum. Employing cross-curricular links motivates pupils and supports them to make connections and remember the steps they have been taught.

• Our curriculum also ensures a balanced coverage of computer science (coding), information technology skills such as typing and saving files, and digital literacy. The children will have experiences of all three strands in each year group, but the subject knowledge imparted becomes increasingly specific and in depth, with more complex skills being taught, thus ensuring that learning is scaffolded, and all National Curriculum requirements are covered.
• Internet safety is taken extremely seriously and is embedded within our curriculum. We have an E-Safety Policy that provides guidance for teachers and children about how to use the internet safely. Each year group participates in lessons on e-safety, children understand how to stay safe when using technology and Internet safety days are held regularly to address current issues.

Impact

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and prepare children for their life ICT journey. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes
• Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer      science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation;
• Children can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems;
• Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems;
• Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Computing Curriculum Map