Computing

Intent

At Abbott Community Primary School, we aspire to be effective and confident users and developers of technology. Our computing curriculum will teach our children to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, imaginative and creative. We will equip the children with the skills and knowledge to design, write and debug programs, use search technologies effectively, and more importantly use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly.  We will prepare our children for the digital world around them and to be confident as the next generation of computer users.

We will do this by:

• Making sure that computing objectives are delivered in the context of an appropriate topic within our curriculum wherever possible
• Providing opportunities to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation  
• Ensuring repeated practical experience to analyse problems in computational terms
• Shaping our lessons and teaching to fulfil the potential of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, or disability
• Providing relevant educational visits that enhance the learning that happens in school 
• Ensuring that our children can communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout all areas of the curriculum

Computing as a stand-alone subject has a number of key components, each of which we aim to teach and fully instil
value in our pupils. These are:

• Computer Science – Pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems
  work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.
• Information Technology – Pupils are equipped to purposefully create programs, systems and a range of content
  in order to develop products and solutions. They will be able to collect, analyse, evaluate and present data
  and information.
• Digital Literacy – Pupils are taught to use, access and express oneself through digital technology, including a
  critical understanding of technology’s impact on the individual and society, at a level suitable for the future
  and as active participants in a digital world. 

Implementation

We follow the Purple Mash Computing Scheme of Work which provides a comprehensive set of resources aligned to the National Curriculum for Computing, Technology and Digital Competence. The scheme of work is intended to facilitate teachers in achieving the very best outcomes for children. It exposes children to a wide variety of digital tools, technological skills, and innovations. It contains everything that is needed to deliver inspiring and engaging lessons whilst allowing for the flexibility to meet the school's needs. Lessons are delivered from lesson plans with accompanying slide shows with key vocabulary, images and questions. The scheme also includes additional units that go beyond the expectations of the National Curriculum, whilst also providing ‘Catch-Up’ units to close gaps in learning. 

Each year group learns about and revisits online safety to ensure that the children are regularly reminded about how to keep themselves safe on apps and websites.

To help with our implementation of the computing curriculum we have a variety of hardware available to all teachers, including:

• 60 laptops

• 50 iPads

• 10 sets of Crumble

• 30 Micro:Bits

In Key Stage One, children will learn to understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on
digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions. They will be taught how
to create and debug simple programs and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviours of simple programs. They will
be shown how to use a range of technology purposefully to create, organise, store, retrieve and manipulate digital
content as well as recognise common uses of technology beyond school.
They will be taught to use technology safely and respectfully, keep personal information private; identify where to
go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

In Key Stage Two, the children will build on their knowledge and experience from Key Stage One and will design, write
and debug programs that accomplish specific goals by decomposing them into smaller parts. They will use sequence,
selection and repetition in programs, use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and correct
errors in their own and existing programs.
Pupils will be taught to understand computer networks, including the Internet, and the opportunities they offer for
communication and collaboration. They will use search technologies effectively, learn to appreciate how results and
selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content.
Pupils will be taught to select, use and combine a variety of software (including Internet services) on a range of digital
devices to create a range of programs, systems and content that achieve given goals.
They will be taught to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable and unacceptable
behaviour and be clear how to identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact to keep themselves
and others safe.