Intent:
Technology has become an increasingly important part of our everyday lives and will continue to be so. The internet and other technologies are powerful tools, which provide new and exciting opportunities for everyone but also new challenges. At Lostwithiel School we believe it is our responsibility to teach pupils how to be safe and competent users of current and developing technologies. A secure understanding of computing, from an early age, equips children with the knowledge, skills and understanding to keep up to date with developing technologies but also equips them for their future lives and workplaces. In our delivery of the computing curriculum we promote discussion, creativity, asking questions and links being formed between learning. These skills, and the core computing skills themselves, are vitally important in education, employment and everyday life and are therefore hugely important to us as a school. Alongside this we explicitly teach the vocabulary associated with computing so our pupils can talk confidently about their learning in computing. We believe that through our computing curriculum we are developing the computer engineers and software designers of the future and helping to shape the future of our world and theirs. We aim to ensure that all pupils achieve well in computing and we promote the safe use of computing at school and at home; this includes work with parents, families and our local community on safe use of technology. Our vision for computing is that, when leaving Lostwithiel School, all pupils are capable and safe users of a range of technologies, aware of both the benefits and risks associated with them; eager and inspired to learn more. We ensure our delivery of our computing curriculum caters for the needs of all pupils and is entirely inclusive, with challenge for those who require it to go further with their learning in computing. Technology is shaping the way we live our lives on a local and global level and our curriculum aims to enable pupils to develop communities and networks through safe use of technology, both within our rural context and globally so that technology can enrich our pupils lives. Through our curriculum we model the safe behaviours seen online and discuss unsafe/risky behaviours online to ensure our pupils are equipped to be safe users of technology. We explore the sharing of values and beliefs online and how to do so safely and with an open mind but a critical eye.
We believe that:
-
Fluency in the use of computing is becoming as important as fluency in language and number.
-
Computing lessons should be well-planned using the school curriculum and should be skills based and progressive.
-
Where possible, learning in computing should be linked to learning in other curriculum areas.
-
All three strands of the computing curriculum are of equal important (computer science, information technology and digital literacy including internet safety) and should all be taught every year.
-
Pupils should be aware of the practical applications of computing for learning, leisure and work and be able to use it for these purposes.
-
Pupils, staff, parents and governors all need to be equipped with the skills to function in the technological world but most importantly, to also protect themselves and others online.
-
All pupils are entitled to opportunities to use computers whenever it can make learning more effective.
-
Computing skills can be used very effectively across the curriculum to extend higher ability pupils and to support less able pupils and pupils with specific learning needs.
-
Assessment in computing is important to track the progress of pupils learning throughout the year and school and for teaching to be tailored to the needs of individual and pupils so the pupils can be both extended and supported in their computing learning.
-
Information communication technologies are hugely useful skills in improving home-school communications and in celebrating pupils’ successes and work.
-
Investments in computing resources must be linked to raising the achievement of pupils.
-
Computing, computing equipment and computing teaching must stay current and up-to-date with developing technologies.
Implementation:
For our computing curriculum we follow the Purple Mash Computing Curriculum which is fully aligned with the National Curriculum for computing at KS1 and KS2 and the EYFS Statutory framework and Early Learning Goals. This scheme of work is progressively designed in a spiral curriculum so that pupils revisit learning, knowledge, skills and vocabulary from previous year groups and build on this before moving on to more advanced learning. Every year group cover the same three core strands of learning every year: Computer Science, Information Technology & Digital Literacy (including internet safety). Learning overviews identify (through colour coding - see below) the themes of each unit of work: coding and computational thinking, spreadsheets, internet and emails, art and design, music, databases and graphing, writing and presenting and communication and networks. This allows teachers to easily identifying links between pupils current learning within a theme and their existing learning within that theme and identify. There are additional optional units to extend and consolidate learning in a given theme where relevant. Within the progression documents, knowledge is highlighted in green and skills are highlighted in red to ensure progression is clear. The computing progression document identifies Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary which will be explicitly taught through each unit. Every unit has a detailed lesson plan as well as instructional videos for pupils and teachers to use to consolidate learning. Purple Mash poses challenges for pupils and provides direct, instant feedback to pupils on their success with these challenges. Work is submitted to teachers for feedback and review and can be assigned to objectives to support with assessment of individuals and groups of children. Work can be shared with parents and published online where relevant to provide pupils with an audience.
We encourage staff to make as many cross-curricular and ‘real-life’ links as possible in their delivery of the computing curriculum so that pupils see computing as a useful tool for their learning and life.
Impact:
Pupils leave Lostwithiel School able to access and use technology safely and effectively. We know this from secondary schools and pupils’ success in computing at our local secondary schools. We are aware of many past pupils going on to pursue courses, qualifications and careers in technology and careers that use technology.