Intent
Computing is an integral part of our everyday life and will play an immeasurable part in our children’s futures. We want to provide all of our children with the skills, creativity and enthusiasm to live and thrive safely in the digital world.
We teach them key disciplinary knowledge in order to support this.
As more of our children’s time is spent online, we also need to equip them with the skills to make safe choices, be inspired and confident when online.
We follow the National Curriculum for Computing establishing cross-curricular links where appropriate.
Computing is taught regularly throughout the school, beginning with small steps in Reception, and these lessons build up their knowledge and skills. The lessons are taught through three main threads:
- Computing
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy including Online Safety/Conduct
Children will use IT equipment from Reception where they will take their own photographs and use tablet devices and laptops to paint pictures, select and move images and begin to find/type some letters.
In KS1 and KS2, children will be taught key skills in programming and algorithms using a range of equipment and software. We will also focus on understanding computers and using them to process data. Through the IT lessons, children also learn to use different software applications including spreadsheets, word processing and presentation software.
Children will also have an opportunity to apply their skills in other subject areas, using a range of devices.
Online safety is a priority at Lydgate and children will learn how to use devices safely and responsibly. This will begin in Reception where children are taught to log onto our virtual environment using a pictorial password. Online safety will be integrated with the Computing curriculum. In addition to this, we will also focus on elements of online safety in our PSHE lessons, such as online relationships, health & well-being and self-image. Parents are kept up to date with trends involving apps, games and social media and given useful tips to deal with these via monthly posts on our school Dojo story, which is accessed by the majority of our parents.
Computing is taught in a two year cycle in KS1, Lower KS2 and Upper KS2.
Our curriculum uses Purple Mash in the main which is a fantastic resource that enables children to apply their learning and skills to other curriculum areas and also allows children to access their work at home.
Click here for the National Curriculum expectations for Computing
Click here for the Computing LONG TERM PLAN for Cycle 1 and Cycle 2
Click here for the Progression of Computing, IT and Digital Literacy Skills through school
Implementation
Computing is timetabled weekly and is taught usually by the class teacher or a qualified HLTA. In every lesson, the sequence of lessons is established, prior knowledge recapped and key vocabulary shared. The key knowledge and skills for the lessons are identified in the planning and progression established.
The computing units are well resourced with pupil laptops, iPads and microbits (for coding) available for the children
Monitoring - Every year, the subject lead conducts a work scrutiny to ensure parity and progression. Regular pupil interviews, including for online safety, are conducted to evaluate learning against intent. The subject lead also observes a sample of lessons through school. Through the monitoring process, next steps are identified and shared in staff meetings. Examples of work across school are saved on the server in order to support with modelling and evidence progression.
Assembly – The subject lead delivers regular whole school assemblies on online safety and conduct as this is a crucial area for our children’s emotional development.
Impact
At the end of every unit, staff assess the children for the unit covered and the data updated every half term onto a tracker. This is accessible to all staff including the subject lead. In KS1, assessment of the unit may be done in groups.
Lessons show a clear progression of skills and knowledge as laid out in the progression document.
Pupil interviews show that the children understand how the digital landscape is changing our world, are able to remember their learning and use subject specific vocabulary. The children are able to talk confidently about the need to be safe when online and be aware of their own conduct. Pupils are usually picked by the subject lead based on the assessment tracker.
Lesson observations show that staff are confident in delivering the curriculum and next steps actioned.
Competitions – The subject lead conducts regular competitions to raise the profile of online conduct and safety amongst the children including around Safer Internet Day. The impact of this can be seen in the hall on a display.