Computing

Statement of Intent

At Brookside Primary School, 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 is of increasing importance for children’s future both at home and for employment. Our Computing curriculum is carefully sequenced to focus on a progression of skills in Digital Literacy, Computer Science, Information Technology and Online Safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology.

Implementation

We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear knowledge and skills progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

It is expected (and timetabled for) each year group to teach computing skills for the minimum of 1 hour a week. In addition, the digital literacy skills will be consolidated across other curriculum areas to enhance and enrich learner’s experiences.

Within Digital Literacy, learners discover that technology is everywhere, identify the technology they encounter and develop a growing understanding as to how it works.

In Computer Science, children are taught to solve problems effectively with or without a computer. Learners are encouraged to think about the sequence of steps (an algorithm) needed to solve a problem. Then, to use their technical skills to get the computer to implement an algorithm as code. They also need to be able to find mistakes and fix them (debugging).

As part of Information Technology, KS2 learners are also required to have the knowledge of networks such as the internet and how specific searches are performed.

Online safety is integral to every computing lesson at Brookside. We teach half-termly stand-alone lessons and have regular termly assemblies to help prepare our children for the digital world they are growing up in. As they grow older it is crucial that they learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with the critical awareness of their own and others’ online behaviour and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online.

Impact

The implementation of this curriculum will ensure that, when children leave Brookside Primary School, they are competent and safe users of ICT with an understanding of how technology works. They will have developed skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and be equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges in their future lives. In short, we want to prepare our students to be healthy digital citizens of tomorrow.