COMPUTING
Intent
Our computing curriculum aims to give our children a secure understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science and to support them to become safe, responsible, and discerning digital citizens. Computing skills are taught discreetly through our computing curriculum, but children also use technology across the curriculum to support them with their learning to ensure they have the key skills to prepare them for a digital world.
Implementation
We use the ‘Switched On’ computing’s scheme of work. Children cover the National Curriculum for computing through two or three units of work in each year group.
The scheme covers three inter-related aspects of computing in each year. These are:
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Computer Science (the foundations of computing, covering coding and computational thinking)
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Information Technology (the applications of computing, including working with documents, data and digital media)
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Digital Literacy (the implications of computing for individuals and society)
Children develop their understanding of what underpins the technology that we use every day and how they can create their own simple programs and work with computer code. Children learn how they can interact safely and responsibly within the digital world and learn the basic skills of word processing, data analysis, creative digital art, and internet research.
The curriculum revisits and builds on key skills each year. For example, in programming pupils are introduced to a simple sequence of recorded button presses on a Bee Bot in Year 1, then move on to building programs by snapping together blocks to move sprites in Scratch Jr before going on to create their own animations, quizzes and games in Scratch.
At Crawford children can access a range of software and hardware to support their learning. We are proud of our computing resources used for learning in Years 1 to 6!
Impact
By the end of year 6 we aim for children:
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to be confident users of technology, able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school.
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to have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems. This is important in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving.
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to be able to apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems
Online Safety
A key part of our computing curriculum is to ensure pupils have the necessary skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe online. We believe children have a right to enjoy childhood online, to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage of development.
Online safety is embedded in both our computing and PSHE curriculum. Each year pack includes an e-safety checklist and specific guidance on relevant e-safety practices.
Through PSHE, English and workshops we also teach children critical thinking skills to help them identify trusted sources on the internet and how to fact check what they have seen or read online.
We deliver regular online safety workshops to parents and give additional lessons for online safety day.
More information
For more information about staying safe online:
