Computing

Computing

St John’s Computing vision:

Our computing curriculum will provide children with the skills to become digital literate learners with the ability to choose software independently to complete a task and to question why a choice has been made. With children growing up in an increasingly immersive and media rich world, our exciting curriculum will have opportunities to explore new technologies in a safe and engaging way, such as, an experience designing augmented and virtual realities, web design, green screening, and animation.

It will help them to develop values like character by being digital leaders and it will increase their sense of identity by understanding they will leave a digital footprint from their actions. The children will show excellence by learning a range skills for careers that are not even around yet. Paired programming will allow teamwork and increase awareness that we work better together. Computational thinking will aid their journey to become self-regulated learners by solving problems logically and breaking processes down into smaller chunks.

Our curriculum will help nurture computational thinking; problem-solving, logic and creativity. They will develop analytical problem-solving skills and learn to evaluate and apply information technology. The curriculum is inclusive, captivating and the children will overcome barriers to achieve their potential. It has been designed to gradually progress key skills to ensure all pupils to know how to utilise technology throughout subjects and challenges they face. It will inspire them to become responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of technology. It will allow children to apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, thus creating a foundation for success in any 21st-century career path choice.

Rationale:

The views of our stakeholders (children, staff, governors and parents) have been at the root of all decision making. All the school’s stakeholders were consulted in April 2019 and agreed that they wanted their curriculum to be fun, exciting, creative, interesting, hands-on, linked to our values and inspiring.

As a result of our stakeholders’ views, in May 2020, we created a curriculum vision which is inclusive of all subjects. From the curriculum vision, we created our vision for the teaching and learning of Computing. We created a knowledge, skills and vocabulary routeway for Computing from Reception to Year 6, underpinned by the National Curriculum. Our Computing curriculum is designed progressively to use digital and technological vocabulary accurately, alongside a progression in their computing skills. They will be confident using a range of exciting hardware and software and will produce high-quality purposeful products. Children will see the digital world as an inspiring part of their world, extending beyond school, and understand that the choices they make online have the same impact as if they were in the real world. Overtime, we have revisited our computing curriculum, to ensure it is engaging and up to date with the consistently changing digital world, most recently for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Intent and Implementation of our chosen scheme: PlanIt Computing

A high-quality computing curriculum is essential to prepare children for an ever-changing digital world. Through the study of computing, children will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that will equip them for the rest of their digital lives. The PlanIt Computing curriculum aims to empower children with essential digital skills and a deep understanding of technology, fostering creativity and computational thinking while also giving them the skills to be a responsible digital citizen. Children who think computationally are often better able to conceptualise, understand and use computer-based technology. The PlanIt Computing units focus on a progression of skills in the three key strands of computing; digital literacy, computer science and information technology to ensure that children become competent in using and understanding technology. This curriculum also encompasses an age-appropriate unit of work focussing on using technology safely, recognising the importance of children understanding how to keep themselves and others safe online.

Each lesson contains revision, analysis and problem-solving. The lessons and resources help children to build on prior knowledge at the same time as introducing new skills and challenges. In KS1, the focus is on exploring and developing the basic skills needed to use technology safely and purposefully. KS1 children will also look at what algorithms are and begin to utilise these in programming. In KS2, lessons will develop their knowledge of computer networks, Internet services and the safe and purposeful use of the Internet and technology. They will also look at algorithms, programming and coding but in a more complex way and for different purposes. Keywords are included within each unit of work, showing the progression of specific language involved in children’s learning so that teachers can also assess understanding and progress through vocabulary.

Teaching and Timetabling:

In reception, Computing is taught through continuous provision and exploration, as well as discrete teaching. Across the rest of the school, the timetabling of Computing averages to approximately one hour per week. Each year group completes two units across every term, consisting of 6 lessons per unit. This allows for skills to progress within and across year groups and ensures breadth and depth of secure knowledge. Classes can book slots with the iPad and laptops, for both their computing lessons, and to use cross-curricularly.

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