Computing - Intent, Implementation and Impact
North Petherton Primary School have a successful primary computing curriculum, focusing on digital literacy, computer science, and information technology. It aims to equip children with the skills and knowledge to confidently and safely navigate the digital world, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Intent:
Develop Digital Literacy:
Children should be able to effectively use technology for communication, collaboration, and information retrieval. Our aim is to provide a computing curriculum that is designed to balance acquiring a broad and deep knowledge alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts.
Foster Computational Thinking:
Encourage problem-solving, logical reasoning, and algorithmic thinking through coding and other computing activities.
Promote Safe and Responsible Online Behaviour:
Whilst ensuring they understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online. We will equip children with the knowledge and skills to identify and avoid online risks and to use technology ethically.
Enhance Collaboration, Independence, Creativity and Innovation:
Provide opportunities for children to work independently and through collaboration with a partner to express themselves and create digital content using a range of tools and software.
Prepare for the Future:
It is important to us that the children understand how to use technology to express themselves, as tools for learning, as a means to drive their generation forward into the future and to develop skills and knowledge that are relevant to the ever-changing digital landscape and future workplaces.
Implementation:
Structured Curriculum:
The school use the Teach Computing Curriculum; a progressive and comprehensive scheme of work that covers the three strands of computing: digital literacy, computer science, and information technology. This ensures all the key computing skills are taught and developed throughout the children’s time in primary school, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to be active participants in a digital world.
This ensure that children:
can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation and can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems (Computer science)
can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems (Information technology)
are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. (Digital literacy)
Engaging Activities:
The Teach Computing curriculum uses a variety of teaching methods, including practical tasks, projects, and real-world applications, to make learning interactive and enjoyable and to balance acquiring a broad and deep knowledge alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts.
Cross-Curricular Integration:
Alongside discrete computing lessons, we plan opportunities to integrate computing skills and knowledge into other subjects, such as science, history, and art, to enhance learning and enable children to make deeper connections.
Online Safety Education:
We use Project Evolve to deliver the online safety curriculum through a cycle of assessment prior knowledge, targeted lessons to address knowledge gaps and post-teaching assessment to monitor impact. Teachers also look for opportunities to regularly address online safety issues that arise and provide children with the tools and knowledge to stay safe online.
Teacher Training:
Teachers will be provided with ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance their computing skills and knowledge.
Assessment:
Teachers assess student learning and progress, at the end of each unit, to ensure that they are meeting the required standards.
Impact:
Confident and Competent Users:
Children have a love and passion for using technology as a tool for learning, to engage with and explore the world. They will be able to confidently and competently use technology for a variety of purposes including to support other areas of the curriculum and to enhance their knowledge.
Critical Thinkers:
Children will be able to critically evaluate information and make informed decisions about technology use. They will also know when to cross-check information to ensure it is reliable and accurate.
Creative and Innovative Learners:
Children will be able to use technology to express themselves and create new ideas. Children confidently work collaboratively and practically to problem-solve and apply the skills they have learnt.
Responsible Digital Citizens:
Children will be able to use technology safely and responsibly and understand the potential risks and benefits.
Prepared for the Future:
Children will be well-prepared for the next stage of their educational journey and equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the digital world.