Computing
Intent
At New Brancepeth Primary Academy, we want all pupils to be confident and adaptive in using technology to enhance and maximise their knowledge and skills in all areas of the curriculum (for example- D&T links in year 5/6 in Autumn term cycle A). Educating pupils about using technology positively, responsibly and safely is vital due to the pivotal role it plays in children’s lives and wider society. We want all of 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 (especially social media) to model positive use. We recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education. Building our knowledge in this subject will allow pupils to effectively demonstrate their learning through creative use of technology. Our Digital Leaders also contribute to pupil knowledge through reinforcing messages and disseminating information following their weekly sessions. Online Safely is integral to our Computing Curriculum but also has discrete lessons taught to enhance learning further; these often need to be tailored to reflect the current climate within the wider online community. (See our Online Safety Curriculum for further information). We teach the basics of using technology (turning on and off devices, typing, logging in etc.) due to the limited access some of our children may have at home.
We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways and understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils. Our knowledge-rich curriculum is balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively, which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists. We also recognise that Computing can support our key areas for development across school in terms of supporting communication and language, for example, through reasoning tasks involving algorithms, and through developing fine motor skills, for example, through keyboard confidence.
The use of age-appropriate, progressive skills and knowledge is vital in ensuring the purposeful use of technology is evident with coverage of all areas encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy. Staff are encouraged to make learning creative and accessible by embedding curriculum progression across all year groups and we use Purple Mash as a vehicle to support with this. In Key Stage 2, we build upon Purple Mash units in more conventional programmes such as Excel and Word to prepare pupils for education beyond primary with a platform from which to build further. 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. (Progression in knowledge and skills linked to digital literacy is detailed within our Online Safety Curriculum and is supported by ‘Education for a Connected World’.)
The EYFS framework is structured very differently to the National Curriculum as it is organised across seven areas of learning rather than subject areas. The most relevant statements for Computing are taken from the following areas of learning:
• Communication and Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Understanding the World
The intent for Computing within EYFS is for children to secure foundations within Digital Literacy. Reception children access focused lessons where knowledge is progressively built across the year, supported by National Online Safety. For wider teaching linked to computing across EYFS, incidental enhancements are made to continuous provision to develop and extend children’s skills and knowledge, with adult intervention and modelling where required, in preparation for the National Curriculum at Year 1.
Our whole school curriculum is planned on a two-year cycle, and this year (2023/24), we are covering Cycle B. This allows us to support mixed- age classes across school. Knowledge organisers are designed to support teacher subject knowledge and children’s knowledge at Key Stage 2. Purple Mash supports the delivery of the National Curriculum through a safe and structured platform with planning available to support staff who lack subject expertise. Our curriculum is also linked, where appropriate, to our core themes of family, community and the wider world through targeted Project Outcomes across the whole curriculum.
Computing Long-Term Plan
