Computing
Intent
The Collingwood Primary School Computing curriculum is intended to prepare children for an ever-changing digital world. Our aim is to create a love of all areas of computing and equip our students with the skills, confidence, and motivation to be successful. Knowledge will be progressively built upon throughout school and sequenced to allow students to build their understanding year on year. Throughout our computing curriculum we encourage children to develop an understanding of how technology makes a difference in all aspects of life and the impact this has had on society over the years. Children at our school are taught how to be a responsible user of technology and how to keep themselves safe online.
Implementation
Computing is taught in accordance with the National Curriculum, following the Teach Computing scheme of learning. Progression in Computing extends pupils knowledge, understanding and skills in Information Technology, Computer Science and Digital Literacy (including Online Safety). A range of strategies are used within lessons to ensure that computing is accessible to meet the needs of all children. As a result of high-quality teaching, all children are able to make good progress in computing. Our computing curriculum begins in the EYFS with them developing an understanding of the purpose of ICT and being able to use simple electronic devices. This will lay the foundations for the pupils moving into Key Stage 1. 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. 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.
Impact
Following our computing curriculum, children demonstrate strong foundations of skills and attitudes that enable them to use technology competently and safely in society. We want to ensure children are prepared for an ever-changing society and will have problem-solving skills from computational thinking to allow them to approach difficult tasks with high-levels of resilience. It is the hope that this will lead to good job opportunities in the computing field.
Year 1
Pupils will begin to develop understanding of computing systems and networks, identifying main parts of tablets and using their finger to complete different tasks, including editing text. They will begin to make careful choices to create media. Pupils will start their programming journey by combining direction commands to create sequences. Year 1 pupils will learn about comparing groups of objects to begin developing their knowledge about data and information. Online safety at year one will mainly focus on developing children's understanding of rules that keep them safe while online at home as well as in school.
Year 2
Pupils will continue to develop understanding of computing systems and networks, identifying information technology beyond the school and how it benefits us. They will take digital photographs and decide how these can be improved. Programming skills will be further developed by writing their own algorithms. Year 2 pupils will continue to learn about data and information, being able to explain that we present information using IT. Online safety at year 2 will further develop children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe by delving deeper into why we need to follow agreed rules while online
Year 3
Pupils will further develop understanding of computing systems and networks, thinking critically about how digital devices can change the way we work. When creating medial, Year 3 pupils will be encouraged to consider how different layouts can suit different purposes. Year 3 programming will involve pupils adapting features of their program (for example, recognising that sequences can have an order and adapting a program to a new context). Year 3 data and information lessons will introduce pupils to databases. Online safety at Year 3 will involve supporting pupils to reflect on the reasons we must be cautious about sharing personal information online.
Year 4
Pupils will be able to recognise that networked devices make up the internet in 'computing systems and networks' lessons. In creating media, Year 4 pupils will make good choices when selecting different tools to improve their outcomes. Year 4 will further develop from sequencing in year 3 to introduce the content of repetition in programming. In data and information lessons, Year 4 pupils will be able to explain how data is collected over time and can be used to answer questions. Online safety in Year 4 will encourage pupils to think of their 'online reputation' and how content posted can affect others
Year 5
Within 'computing systems and networks' lessons, pupils will progress from understanding that computers are networked in Year 4 to how computers can be connected together in systems and how these systems enable us to transfer information across the internet so that in Year 5 children can explain how people in different places can work together. Year 5 pupils will be considering the impact of choices made when editing videos. Programming at Year 5 will further progress from repetition to selection, for example how selection directs the flow of their program. In data and information lessons, Year 5 pupils will apply their knowledge of databases to answer questions. One of the most significant parts of online safety curriculum in Year 5 will help pupils identify a range of ways to report concerns and access support both in school and home about online bullying.
Year 6
Year 6 pupils will complete their 'computing systems and networks' primary journey by evaluating different ways of working together online. When creating media in Year 6, pupils will apply varied skills, crucially (in preparation for secondary) considering the ownership and copyright issues when using existing online media in their outcomes. Having successfully developed incremental programming skills, Year 6 pupils will be ready to include variables to improve their program. Pupils will complete their data and information journey by choosing suitable ways to present data. Online safety in Year 6 is a critical precursor to our children transitioning to secondary school; Collingwood pupils will develop practical strategies to capture bullying content as evidence (such as screen-grab, URL and profile) to share with others who could help them if and when such situations arise in their online lives
