‘Alan Turing gave us a mathematical model of digital computing that has completely withstood the test of time. He gave us a very, very clear description that was truly prophetic’
George Dyson
Computing is an ever-changing part of our day to day lives, which also comes with increasing risk. At Walesby C of E Primary School, we aim to equip the children to enter this environment by enabling them to find, explore, analyse, present and exchange information in digital form. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers. We want our pupils to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology to model positive use. Through both our PSHE and computing curriculum, we promote the importance of online safety and staying safe using technology.
How is computing taught at our school?
At Walesby C of E Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum for computing. We use the the NCCE Teach Computing scheme from Year 1 to Year 6. These units have been carefully planned into our two year cycle to ensure progression through school.
Our computing curriculum is arranged according to four key strands:
- Creating Media
- Data and Information
- Programming
- Computer systems and Networks
Walesby C of E Primary School
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Computing Curriculum | ||
Intent | Implementation | Impact |
All pupils at Walesby C of E Primary School have the right to rich, deep and broad learning experiences that balance all aspects of computing (computer science, information technology and digital literacy). With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high quality computing education equips pupils to use technology creatively to understand and change the world in a safe manner. We believe that technology can provide enhanced collaborative learning opportunities, engagement in rich content and supporting pupil’s conceptual understanding of new concepts, which support the needs of all our pupils. The use of resources from Teach Computing, the National Centre for Computing Education and Project Evolve across the school underpins the curriculum needs of all these areas. Additionally, it enables us to forge cross-curricular links to our school’s thematic curriculum where appropriate. We want our children to be safe online and when using digital devices. We provide staff with regular training and up to date resources to carry out effective teaching of computing and ongoing assessment. | Computing at Walesby C of E Primary is taught in a number of ways: Early Years: In the early years, the approach is through cross-curricular learning with an emphasis on hands on experiences and is assessed through the Understanding the World Early Learning Goal. Teaching is through context-based and role pay experiences using mainly I-Pads, programmable toys (Bee-bots) and Project Evolve. Years 1 – 6: From year one upwards, we use resources from Teach Computing (NCCE) and Project Evolve as part of our scheme of work to address the statutory aspects of the National Curriculum. As a school, we believe in delivering fun and engaging lessons, which help to raise standards and allow all pupils to achieve their full potential. Due to our mixed age classes, and to allow for the best use of thematic links, the unit areas have been arranged so that in year progression and topic application makes the best use of teaching time. Whilst our discrete computing sessions use the Teach Computing scheme and Project Evolve resources as a foundation, we also enjoy the flexibility of using computing to enhance our curriculum lessons and further engage the pupils in leading their own learning. They are able to use technology imaginatively and creatively whilst also becoming efficient learners and critical thinkers. Cross-curricular teaching helps enthuse and equip children with the capability to use technology throughout their lives. We believe that this transference of skills can aid in teaching pupils the strategies and knowledge necessary to enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves and others. Each half term we ensure we cover different element of online safety using the ‘Education for a connected world’ document and resources from Project Evolve. | We hope by the time our children leave Walesby C of E Primary school, they enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We will constantly ask the WHY behind their learning and not just the HOW. We want learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being.
Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style online. We feel the way we implement computing helps children realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on in their next stage of education and beyond.
Formative assessment: Teachers strong subject knowledge and understanding of pupil’s means the main method of curriculum assessment we employ is formative assessment.
Retrieval practice: High impact, low stakes quizzes are taken regularly and often repeated to ensure understanding of concepts and that learning is stored in the long-term memory.
Pupil’s work: Work completed by pupils is saved on the schools server. This is assessed by the class teacher.
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YEAR 1 AND 2
A | Y1 Computer systems and networks: Technology around us
Privacy and security | Y1 Creating Media: Digital writing
Online relationships and reputation | Y1 Programming A: Moving Robots
Online bullying, self-image and identity. | Y2 Creating Media: Digital Photography
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y2 Computer systems and networks: Information technology around us
Managing online information | Y2 Programming A: Robot Algorithms
Copyright and ownership |
B | Y1 Data & Information: Grouping Data
Privacy and security | Y1 Creating media: Digital Painting
Online relationships and reputation | Y1 Programming B: Programming Animations
Online bullying, self-image and identity.
| Y2 Data & Information: Pictograms
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y2 Creating Media: Making Music
Managing online information | Y2 Programming B: Introduction to quizzes.
Copyright and ownership |
YEAR 3 AND 4
A | Y3 Computer systems and networks: Connecting Computers
Privacy and security | Y3 Creating Media: Stop frame animation
Online relationships and reputation | Y3 Programming A: Sequencing Sounds
Online bullying, self-image and identity. | Y4 Computer systems and networks: The Internet
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y4 Creating Media: Audio Production
Managing online information | Y4 Programming A: Repetition in shapes
Copyright and ownership |
B | Y3 Data & Information: Branching Databases
Privacy and security | Y4 Creating Media: Desktop publishing
Online relationships and reputation | Y3 Programming B: Events and actions in programs
Online bullying, self-image and identity. | Y4 Data & Information: Data Logging
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y4 Creating Media: Photo editing
Managing online information | Y4 Programming B: Repetition in games
Copyright and ownership |
YEAR 5 AND 6
A | Y5 Computer systems and networks: Systems and searching
Privacy and security | Y5 Creating Media: Video Production
Online relationships and reputation | Y5 Programming A: Selection in physical computing
Online bullying, self-image and identity. | Y6 Computer systems and networks: Communication and collaboration
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y6 Creating Media: Webpage Creation
Managing online information | Y6 Programming A: Variables in games
Copyright and ownership |
B | Y5 Data & Information: Flat-file databases
Privacy and security | Y5 Creating Media: Vector drawing
Online relationships and reputation | Y5 Programming B: Selection in quizzes
Online bullying, self-image and identity. | Y6 Data & Information: Spreadsheets
Health, wellbeing and lifestyle | Y6 Creating Media: 3D Modelling
Managing online information | Y6 Programming B: Sensing movement
Copyright and ownership |
Online Safety
Online safety is taught throughout our computing curriculum and links to our PSHCE sessions and our collective worship. We hope to enable our children to have the right to enjoy childhood online and be safe on online spaces that are appropriate to their age. As they grow older, this will support them with making a positive contributions online and have an awareness of both their and other people's presence online. Every year we take part in 'Safer Internet Day' to increase awareness of the importance of online safety across our school community. Our planning follows 'The Education for a Connected World 2020 Framework'. We use Project Evolve Resources to support our planning.
Our planning and teaching of online safety covers 8 keys areas:
- Self Image and Identity
- Online Relationships
- Online Reputation
- Online bullying
- Managing Online information
- Health, Well-being and Lifestyle
- Privacy and Security
- Copyright and Ownership
Resources
We continually invest in our computing resources and keep them updated. These are maintained by staff and technicians.
Pupils have access to:
- 8 iPads in each class
- A set of 25 iPads shared across the school.
- A class set of laptops shared across the whole school
- 18 Bee-Bots
- Class set of Digital Cameras
- A wide of Apps and Software that support the whole curriculum
For further information and links please look on our 'parents page.'