Computing

Intent

Computing provides children with the key skills and confidence to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world they live in. Children will be equipped to successfully understand, create, develop and analyse a range of content and systems which will enable them to be safe online, digitally literate and active participants in their off and online communities. 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

It is important in the Early Years Foundation Stage to give children a broad, play-based experience of Computing in a range of contexts, including outdoor play. Computing is not just about computers within this learning environment. Early Years learning environments should feature ICT scenarios based on experience in the real world, such as in role-play. The children will gain confidence, control and language skills through this hands on learning. Outdoor exploration is an important aspect, supported by ICT toys. Recording devices can support children to develop their communication skills. This is especially useful for children who have English as an additional language. Our Early Years Foundation Stage team incorporate all aspects of learning in to their day to day work and computing flows through this. It is important in the Early Years Foundation Stage to give children a broad, play-based experience of Computing in a range of contexts, including outdoor play. Computing is not just about computers within this learning environment. Early Years learning environments should feature ICT scenarios based on experience in the real world, such as in role-play. The children will gain confidence, control and language skills through this hands on learning. Outdoor exploration is an important aspect, supported by ICT toys. Recording devices can support children to develop their communication skills. This is especially useful for children who have English as an additional language. Our Early Years Foundation Stage team incorporate all aspects of learning in to their day to day work and computing flows through this.

Key Stage 1 (KS1) 

Across a wide range of topics within computing our students will be taught many aspects of computing which will enhance their wider learning. Our main focus currently across the school is use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about material on the internet or other online technologies. After this, they 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. By creating and debugging simple programs, they will begin to use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. They will move on to use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content. Through the scheme of work taught across the school children will learn to recognise common uses of information technology beyond school.

Key Stage 2 (KS2)

Moving on from our learning in KS1 we utilise our prior learning to build a greater depth of knowledge across a wide range of computing aspects. As in KS1, our main focus is still based around online safety. Students will learn to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact. Beyond this they will design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. Students will be able to use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output. Our students will use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs. Across a wider range of subjects our students will incorporate understanding computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world-wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. They will also use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content. select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information. By the end of KS2 our students will be able to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

For more information about e-safety and how your child(ren) can stay safe online, please follow the link below.