Intent:

Computers are a big part of everyday life and for many of us at St Lawrence CE Primary using technology is essential to our lives, both at home and at school. Children need to be taught the skill of computational thinking to support them in today’s digital world.

At St Lawrence CE Primary, our computing curriculum helps our children to become computational thinking problem solvers through programming. When using technology in a variety of ways, we allow our pupils to solve problems, design systems and understand the power and limits of machine intelligence. Computational thinking is a skill that will empower our children and they will be better prepared for today’s world and the future as they use their computational thinking to understand and use computer-based technology in a purposeful and safe way.

Throughout our computing curriculum, our pupils develop a respectful and responsible attitude towards using technology, especially with regards to their own and other’s safety. It is important that the children understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences and they understand the measures they need to take to keep them and others safe in the digital world.  Our children understand the regular changes and updates that occur when using technology safely and are given a safe space to navigate and interact with the digital world.

Beyond teaching computing discreetly, we will give pupils the opportunity to apply and develop what they have learnt across wider learning in the curriculum.

Implementation:

The Computing curriculum at St Lawrence CE Primary aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future. Our Computing learning journey is sequenced to ensure that the key skills of computational thinking are embedded from the start of the school journey and there is a purpose for everything the child creates. Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills within the strands of digital literacy, information technology and computer science. Our children begin their journey with technology in Early Years, with access to the interactive whiteboard, iPads and BeeBots. Throughout their time at primary school, children have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of computational thinking using a variety of hardware (desktop PCs, iPads and programmable equipment) and software that they need to understand abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. Our computing curriculum gives our children opportunities to make purposeful links with other curriculum areas to support and share learning.

Children have the opportunity to explore and respond to key issues such as digital communications, cyber-bullying, online safety, security and social media. Online safety and responsible use of technology are topics covered in computing and lessons, assemblies and during events such as Safer Internet Day.

At the start of each unit of work, children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know with their peers and there will be opportunities to share expertise within the class.

Impact:

Pupils are formatively assessed every lesson, through observation, discussion and teacher monitoring of work. At the end of each unit, teachers make summative judgements (working towards/ age related/ greater depth) about each pupil’s attainment.

Pupils at St Lawrence CE Primary will become enthusiastic and confident in their approach towards computing. They will have a secure understanding of the positive applications and specified risks associated with a broad range of digital technology. Pupils will present as competent and adaptable Computational Thinkers who are able to use identified concepts and approaches in all of their learning. The children will be able to identify the source of problems and work with perseverance to ‘debug’ them. When using technology, pupils will be able to create and evaluate their own projects when using a range of different programs and hardware.  Pupils at St Lawrence CE Primary will have high aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life using effective skills developed throughout our computing curriculum.