Computing Intent
At Lanivet School, our computing curriculum is to prepare our children for a rapidly changing technological world. Technology is important and has a vital role in our pupils’ digital journey. We provide opportunities across the curriculum to develop their skills and knowledge within computing. We aim to model and educate pupils on how to use technology positively, competently, responsibly and safely.
Our computing curriculum is made up of three distinct strands:
- Computer science– The foundations of understanding computing in which pupils develop computational thinking and learn how digital systems work through programming and algorithms.
- Information technology– Pupils learn to use computer systems and networks to creatively and purposefully manipulate a range of digital content.
- Digital literacy -Pupils become digitally literate through developing the basic functional skills needed to use technology confidently and effectively.
Teachers make effective use of technology to enhance and enable teaching and learning across the curriculum in order to engage learners, promote achievement and develop digital literacy skills.
Computing Curriculum Implementation
At Lanivet School, our computing teaching and learning follows the Teach Computing Curriculum from the National Computing Centre for Excellence. Computing is delivered in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 through weekly, 1 hour, discrete computing lessons. We use a range of hardware such as laptops, IPads, probots, beebots and microbits. Children use Google Classroom to create, share and store work across the curriculum.
Teach Computing is a spiral curriculum, which means we revisit themes regularly, at least once in each year group, to consolidate and build on themes and skills. This reduces the amount of knowledge being lost as topics are revisited. The curriculum covers computing system and networks, programming (algorithms, programming, design and development), data information and creating media.
We follow ‘Common Sense Education’ scheme for online safety, where children become digital citizens, understanding the importance of using devices safely and responsibly. Parents are made aware of online safety via the school website, Facebook, newsletters, home learning activities and in-school workshops. Parents are also encouraged to access our Online Safety page on the website.
Computing Impact
The impact of our curriculum is that pupils develop the skills and knowledge required to become active participants in an ever changing digital world. We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: pupil discussions alongside looking at the class padlet, monitoring, photo evidence and their comments on the padlet and monitoring children’s work saved in their Google Classroom accounts.
Teacher assessments are carried out in order to monitor pupils progress as they develop their knowledge and skills in Computing. Assessments are made from computing padlets, which shown progression of skills and learning.
In Key Stage 2, teachers carry out summative assessments at the end of each computing unit, using the Teach Computing Assessment Framework Materials. Assessments are in the form of either a multiple choice quiz (MCQ) or an assessment rubric. These assessments will support teacher judgements of children’s understanding and progression of skills.