Camm’s CE Primary School Statement:

Thinking - Creating - Changing 

Computing Intent

At Camm’s, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of computing and the associated skills is of increasing importance for our children’s future both at home and in the workplace. Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using and understanding technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is thoroughly embedded and skills are successfully developed. Our intention is that the Computing curriculum supports our children’s creativity and cross-curricular learning to engage them and enrich their experiences in school.

Implementation

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability or additional needs to flourish and become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression using Purple Mash as our base. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. To ensure that the children gain a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught across three main strands: digital literacy, computer science and information technology. As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves as well as developing their ideas through Computing using technology to develop and presenting their ideas, exploring the use of technology and use of multimedia within many aspects of art and design.

Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of Computing and develop the ability to apply these skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems understanding how to make safe use of the internet, networks and email. In computer science we teach children how to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. We develop the ability to analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. We also teach a progression of computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding.

At Camm’s, we give children access to a wide range of good quality resources and where possible provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills. Online safety is taught within each Computing topic and is often revisited in lessons as a short starter activity as well as being taught as a standalone unit itself each year. Online safety procedures are communicated with all staff and parents and updated as the technology develops.

                                               EYFS

Despite computing not being explicitly mentioned within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which focuses on the learning and development of children from birth to age five, there are many opportunities for young children to use technology to solve problems and produce creative outcomes. In particular, many areas of the framework provide opportunities for pupils to develop their ability to use computational thinking effectively.

As young children take part in a variety of tasks with digital devices, such as moving a Bee Bot around a classroom, they will already be familiar with the device before being asked to undertake tasks related to the key stage one (KS1 - ages 5 - 7 years) curriculum, such as writing and testing a simple program. Not only will children be keen to again use a device they had previously enjoyed using, their cognitive load will also be reduced, meaning they are more likely to succeed when undertaking activities linked to the next stage in their learning.

Impact

Through the implementation of this curriculum we strive to ensure that when children leave Camm’s Primary School, they are competent and safe users of Computing with an understanding of how technology works. The impact of our curriculum will have helped the children develop the skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and they are then equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges going forward.