“A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. 

Intent

Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.” (National Curriculum, 2013) Primary computing allows the children to explore these three core aspects: 

• Information technology 

• Computer Science 

• Digital Literacy 

Implementation

Our computing curriculum is informed by Teach Computing and resources, links and programmes are available for free on the Teach Computing website. We have carefully chosen the units of learning to meet the needs of our children and to ensure that they get a wide range of opportunities to practise their programming skills, media production skills and data collection skills. Digital literacy is threaded through all of these areas of our computing curriculum as it is vital that children know how to be safe, responsible users of computers. 

Our curriculum offer for Computing begins in Early Years. ‘Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances.'  

EYFS Statutory Framework, 2021 

Although the Early Years Statutory Framework doesn’t include technology as part of Understanding the World, we think that it is important to give the children in Early Years the opportunity to explore and begin to develop their computer skills and awareness of online safety. 

Why this? Why now? 

The whole school long term plan is designed for mixed age classes. Computing is taught weekly throughout school. The units of knowledge are deliberately chosen to enable pupils to build their vocabulary, knowledge and computational skills. By the end of primary school, the children should be prepared to use technology confidently and safely. 

• Computing systems and networks – IT around us 

• Computing systems and networks – IT around us 

• Programming A – repetition in shapes 

• Programming B – repetition in games

Knowledge in Computing

Substantive knowledge in computing is understanding how to use technology, how to be safe and knowing how to program. This is developed through deliberate practice and by children applying their knowledge of how to be computational thinkers so that they know more, remember more and do more. Daily lesson planning must take into account children’s working memory capacity so that only one to four pieces of information need to be remembered. 

“Computational thinking is an important life skill, which all pupils now need to develop. It is central to both living in and understanding our digitally enriched world. It is a cognitive process involving logical reasoning by which problems are solved across the whole curriculum and through life in general.” (Computing at School, 2015) 

Disciplinary knowledge in computing is the use and interpretation of substantive knowledge in order to develop original digital content and programs. 

Dame Alison Peacock tells us in her book Assessment for Learning without Limits, we can get it very wrong when, “false, limiting assumptions are made about children’s capacity to learn.” 

There is no national definition of ‘most able’. Abilities are not fixed and the situation is always fluid. In every primary classroom, there will always be a wide range of abilities that change over time. We believe, therefore, that when ‘stretching and challenging’ our pupils, it is vital to do so within an ethos of high expectation and knowing our pupils well. This enables our planning to be focused and therefore effective in meeting the needs of all pupils. 

Reading opportunities in Computing 

Reading underpins our entire curriculum. Key texts and pieces of information are carefully selected ensuring that the content and reading age are appropriate. 

SMSC in Computing 

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural attributes are developed in our pupils throughout the computing curriculum. The children can develop spiritually by reflecting on how computers and the internet have an impact on their lives and others’ lives. As part of online safety, children explore the power and limitations of the internet. During these units, the children can reflect on the reliability of sources of information. Throughout the computing curriculum there are many opportunities for the children to develop their self-esteem during presentations and work- sharing. Moral education in the computing curriculum is centred in respect for others whilst using online devices including laptops, tablets and mobile phones. There are opportunities for children to explore concepts such as copyright and plagiarism that will further develop and heighten their awareness of moral issues that occur on the internet. Social education in the computing curriculum through highlighting to the children how to stay safe when using social media and through discussions about how the internet has had an impact on how people communicate. Our children also gain a clear understanding of how to be kind to others on the internet and how to stay safe. As the children move into KS2, they can begin to explore how computers and technology can help us to develop our cultural awareness. The children can explore and present new information using the internet and computing programs. 

Impact

Across our Computing curriculum we provide our children with the opportunities to flourish through our key values for learning of respect, love and perseverance. We do this by promoting respect of each other’s ideas, computing knowledge and contributions during lessons. Promoting a love for the subject through enthusiastic teaching and learning. Promoting perseverance where children are encouraged to try again with help from their teacher, their peers or through the use of computing resources.