Computing 

“Computing is not about computers any more. It is about living.”

– Nicholas Negroponte

Intent

At Mattersey Primary School we intend that children should master Computing to such an extent that they can go on to have careers within computing and make use of Computing effectively in their everyday lives, without being completely reliant on technology. Our pupils will be taught to use technology responsibly and carefully, being mindful of how their behaviour, words and actions can affect others. Our pupils will be taught Computing in a way that ensures progression of skills and follows a sequence to build on previous learning. Our pupils will gain experience and skills of a wide range of technology in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities, enabling them to use technology across a range of subjects to be creative and solve problems, ensuring they make progress.

Implementation

We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow a Computing scheme (Kapow) that ensures progression of skills and covers all aspects of the Computing curriculum.

The key areas of learning are: Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Literacy, Computing systems and networks, Programming, Creating Media, Data handling and Online Safety.

Classes will not always have a scheduled Computing lesson each week, but will be taught Computing alongside other curriculum subjects, where appropriate, as a discrete subject as well as within the topic of learning. All pupils from EYFS through to Year 6 will complete a discrete topic specifically on Internet Safety each Spring Term 1 to coincide with the National Internet Safety Day. However; online safety will be present in all topics of learning.

Children will have individuals logins and will be able to save and store their work for reference and assessment.

We want to ensure that Computing is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using technology are always taken. For example, developing digital skills through Art.

Impact

Our children enjoy and value Computing and know why they are doing things, not just how. Children will understand and appreciate the value of Computing in the context of their personal wellbeing and the technological, creative and cultural industries and their many career opportunities.

Progress in Computing is demonstrated through regularly reviewing and scrutinising children’s work to ensure that progression of skills is taking place.

Namely through:

• Looking at pupils’ work, especially over time as they gain skills and knowledge.
• Observing how they perform in lessons.
• Talking to them about what they know.

The Computing curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. This would be seen in them being able to talk confidently about their work, and sharing their work with others.

Progress will be shown through outcomes and through the important record of the process leading to them. Here is the progression document for Computing at Mattersey from EYFS to Year 6: