Computing
The Subject Leader for Computing is Mrs Mashiter.
The lead for online safety is Miss Taylor, the Headteacher and Designated Senior Lead.
If you have any concerns or questions about safety online, please visit the 'Keeping Safe' area of our website.
Computing Curriculum Overview & Skills Progression 24-25
Computing Curriculum Statement
Intent
The inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, explains we don’t need to teach computing because we need more programmers. Instead, we should teach our pupils computing because we need more doctors, artists, musicians, farmers and civil servants.
‘The Web, as I envisaged it, we have not seen it yet. The future is still so much bigger than the past.’
Tim Berners-Lee
At Grange, we understand that our pupils need to have access to an excellent Computing curriculum because of the speed of development of technology and its impact on our lives. Children who grow up with technology around them usually develop into competent users. However, that will does not guarantee that they will have a sound understanding of the underlying processes involved and will not automatically help them best apply their skills safely and ethically. Therefore, our curriculum is designed to develop skills within this context.
We also know that this pace of change means that it is crucially important that we teach our pupils to understand the risks and potential of the internet and how to stay safe within that environment, so the teaching of online safety is a key part of our Computing curriculum content. We build it into our curriculum and we also have an alert system – Whisper (SWGfL), which allows children to report when they feel unsafe online. We also explicitly reference the appropriate use of technology in our behaviour policy and have supportive systems in place to respond to incidents which may occur both in the virtual and real world.
We understand that our pupils need to be ‘digitally literate’, that they need to be able to code, to understand networks and to have key skills which will enable them to interact more meaningfully and securely with a range of technological devices, including but not limited to computers and phones.
Therefore, we are in a process of continual reflection and development as we construct our Computing curriculum to include a balance of content to deliver the range of experiences and skills needed. We are aware that we need to look at how our children ‘use technology to learn’ as well as ‘learn to use technology’.
We also look at our resources carefully – for example, using Apple iPads and chromebooks increasingly as a cross-curricular tool, and other practical and digital resources such as Lego and drones for coding. We use nationally-accredited resources such as SWGfL’s Project Evolve to underpin the delivery of our Online Safety programme and Discovery Education to support our Coding.
Implementation
We implement our Teach Computing curriculum through carefully planned long term and medium term plans, which connect to other subject areas where relevant, either to support subject learning or for efficient use of technology – for example, using iPads as a tool for SEN pupils to access learning programmes or to quickly link to online resources using QR codes.
We use quality resources to support and deliver aspects of the curriculum. For example, we use Teach Computing to teach programming, media, data, and computing networks, and SWGfL Project Evolve for our online safety.
Our Online Safety curriculum is clearly laid out in plans, underpinned by the use of SWGfL Project Evolve with links to our PSHE curriculum and to our whole-school safeguarding policies. We also aim to support our parents/carers through providing links to relevant websites accessed through our school website; the Online Safety Policy being available from our website; use of differentiated Acceptable Use Policies; face-to-face events for parents to support them with their own device use (e.g., using our technicians to help parents set privacy settings on their phones and tablets); promoting national events such as Safer Internet Days.
Children have access to laptops and iPads and develop their computing skills using both types. They explore the benefits of different types of devices and are able to use them interchangeably.
iPads are taken out on school trips to ensure that technology is integrated into other areas of the curriculum. It is also used in the classroom in other subjects where there are strong links to support learning and production of work. For example, in maths pupils use software programmes such as Times Tables Rockstars; in English, software and programmes are used to design and deliver presentations. SEN children also use technology where appropriate to access the curriculum. Other types of technology such as Beebots and BBC Microbits are used where appropriate to the curriculum.
The full range of skills and content is detailed on the Computing Curriculum Overview and Skills Progression document. Planning is further detailed on medium term plans – which clearly show the sequence of learning, links to prior learning and opportunities for connections across the curriculum along with links to the EYFS Framework 2021.
Impact
We assess the impact of our curriculum in a range of ways which includes:
- Summative assessment of learning
- Images of the children’s practical learning
- Children’s work saved onto their individual accounts or in PSHE books.
- Reflective evaluation of lessons, (Assessment for Learning) leading to review and adjustment where needed
- Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice) through formal and informal monitoring and through our RRSA committees
- Annual reporting to parents of standards across the curriculum
- Termly reporting to governors, including presentations and attendance at governor Curriculum meetings
- Monitoring behaviour incidents (including ‘Whisper’ alerts), where incidents are linked to inappropriate use of technology, and tracking the effectiveness of our response and support
Online Safety for Parents - Great Links and Information
If you couldn't make it to our Safer Internet Day after school, we have posted some great links to some of the information provided.
Remember if you ever need to speak to a member of staff regarding your or your child's online safety do not hesitate to contact us.
Coding at Grange Primary School
Two out of the four main aims for the computing curriculum focuses on coding (these are outlined below). At Grange, we have a wide variety of hardware and software to give our pupils experience of applying their knowledge of coding skills.
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
Examples of software used to enhance our coding curriculum:
Hopscotch
Scratch
Swift Playgrounds
Tickle
WeDo 2.0
Examples of hardware used to enhance our coding curriculum:
Drones - KS2
BeeBots - KS1 and lower KS2
Lego WeDo 2.0 kits - KS2
BBC Microbit. - KS2
iPads - KS1 & KS2
Online Safety at Grange Primary School
At Grange, online safety is given a high level of importance. Online safety is one of the core elements of the computing curriculum (see target below). Online safety is taught discreetly across all year groups and is also taught through our PSHE curriculum. We want all of our pupils to be confident, conscientious, and safe users of technology.
- children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Below are some images of one of our most recent online safety events which involved teachers, pupils, parents, and members of our community.
In 2021 we will be using the resources from Project Evolve curriculum created by SWGFL. We have decided to implement this at Grange Primary School to ensure coherent and sustained progression throughout school.
Find out more about Project Evolve here:
https://projectevolve.co.uk/about/
Computing in the wider curriculum at Grange Primary School
One of the main aims of the Computing National Curriculum is for pupils to use and apply their understanding of key computing skills to solve problems (see target below). Therefore we encourage the use of ICT across all curriculum areas.
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems\
Here are some fantastic examples of children using to technology to problem solve and enhance learning:
Computing Programme of Study KS1 & KS2
Aims
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
The full programme of study, including the purpose of study, can be found by following the link below: