Computing
Computing and e-Safety at Grange C of E School
What are our computing aims?
At Grange C of E Primary School, we understand the immense value that technology plays not only in supporting the Computing and whole school curriculum but overall in the day-to-day life of our school. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computation thinking’ is a skill that children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. At Grange C of E Primary School, the core of computing is Computer Science in which pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including laptops, iPads and interactive screens, allowing them to continually practice and improve skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology. Computing teaching at Grange C of E Primary School has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology and our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum whilst ensuring all pupils become digitally literate and resilient.
Our curriculum enables learners to become;
- Responsible, competent, confident and creative in the use of ICT;
- Know how to keep safe whilst using technology and on the internet;
- Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems;
- Analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experiences in order to solve such problems;
- Active participants in the digital world;
- Learners who understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including logic, algorithms and data representation.
Grange C of E Primary School takes internet safety extremely seriously. We have an E-safety Policy that provides guidance for teachers and children about how to use the internet safely. Every year group participates in lessons on e-safety and children understand how to stay safe when using technology.
How do we teach Computing at Grange CE Primary School?
A clear and effective curriculum provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum. Lessons highlight knowledge, skills and vocabulary in a progressive method from year to year.
There are three strands to our curriculum; Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Computer Science underlines the knowledge and skills relating to programming, coding, algorithms and computational thinking. Information Technology underlines the knowledge and skills relating to communication, multimedia and data representation and handling. Digital Literacy underlines the knowledge and skills relating to online safety and technology uses. Our computing curriculum is supplemented by Discovery Education and NCCE schemes of work. We have written our own e-safety scheme tailored to our school. This is supported using Google’s ‘Be Internet Legends’ and guidance from numerous sources. Wider curriculum links and opportunities for the safe use of digital systems are considered when curriculum planning.
Parents are informed of online safety when lessons are taught and issues relating to online safety when they arise including Safer Internet Day.
Computing at Grange C of E Primary School is predominantly taught by our Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) which ensures full coverage of the curriculum and supportive progression throughout all year groups. Due to our current mix of classes a rotation scheme is in place to ensure all children gain full coverage at appropriate levels.
What is the impact computing teaching at Grange CE Primary School?
Our computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different computational components and like other subject’s discrete vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work.
If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress.
We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods;
- Pupil discussions and interviews;
- Governor monitoring with our subject computer link governor;
- Learning walks and reflective staff feedback;
- Dedicated computing subject leader time.
We consider our curriculum to be successful if our children are confident users of technology, who are able to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school and if children are secure in their knowledge about the implications of technology and digital systems. As well as this, children will have an understanding of digital wellbeing and keeping themselves safe online.
