Haslam Park Primary School

Computing at Haslam Park:

Computing subject lead: Mr C Hesketh

Intent:

Here at Haslam Park Primary School we recognise the value that a high quality computing curriculum can offer to our pupils.

 All pupils  (particularly disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND) are entitled to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that will actually equip them for the rest of their life. Computers and technology are such a part of everyday life that our children would be at a disadvantage would they not be exposed to a thorough and robust Computing curriculum. Children must be taught in the art form of ‘Computational Thinking’ in order to provide them essential knowledge that will enable them to participate effectively and safely in the digital world beyond our gates. 

We believe that technology can provide: enhanced collaborative learning opportunities; better engagement of pupils; easier access to rich content; support conceptual understanding of new concepts and can support the needs of all our pupils.

Implementation:

 In order to develop their computing knowledge and skills, learners will:

• Have access to a variety of hardware, software and unplugged resources.
• Become responsible, respectful and competent users of data, information and communication technology.
• Become responsible digital citizens which involves looking at the consequences of your online activity and embedding the principles of staying safe online. It involves the children looking at real world examples of online usage and how they approach these sensibly and responsibly. This is a unit that we teach during the year and revisit when appropriate. We look to use events such as Safer Internet Day to showcase this understanding and keep this topic prominent.
• Understand the importance of governance and legislation regarding how information is used, stored, created, retrieved, shared and manipulated.
• Develop skills, strategies and knowledge that will enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves or others.
• Use technology imaginatively and creatively to inspire and engage them not only in Computing but in the wider curriculum.
• We recognise the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and its relevance to Computing. We aim to provide our children with opportunities to learn and explore this aspect with additional opportunities through after school clubs and other STEM related subjects. We feel we need to teach skills that will prepare our children for the future, as occupations in STEM-related careers are some of the fastest growing of the 21st century and they often have the greatest potential for job growth.

When planning and teaching computing at Haslam Park we believe that computing is an essential part of the curriculum; a subject that not only stands alone but is woven and should be an integral part of all learning. Computing, in general, is a significant part of everyone’s daily life and children should be at the forefront of new technology, with a thirst for learning what is out there. Computing within schools can

therefore provide a wealth of learning opportunities and transferrable skills explicitly within the Computing lesson and across other curriculum subjects.

Impact:

By the time the children at Haslam Park leave our school, they will have developed the skills to enable them to:

• Be responsible digital citizens who consistently use computing devices in a safe and consistent manner to explore the potential of technology and use it in meaningful and lawful ways.
• Describe how Internet search engines find and store data; use search engines effectively; be discerning in evaluating digital content; respect individuals and intellectual property; use technology responsibly, securely and safely.
• Understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the worldwide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.
• Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
• Use sequence, selection and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output; generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs.
• Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs in a logical manner.
• Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts and enhance problem solving skills.

 Our computing curriculum aims to ensure that children at Haslam Park will be digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform. They will be equipped, not only with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and for their own benefit, but more importantly – safely. The biggest impact we want on our children is that they understand the consequences of using the internet and that they are also aware of how to keep themselves safe online.

Curriculum Adjustments: 

*Due to the recent school closures and restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, elements of this curriculum have regrettably been impacted. We aim to respond to this by re-engaging as many aspects of this as we can; such as holding enriching after school clubs, providing more opportunities across the foundation subjects to utilise and enhance computing skills and provide our scheme with a clear path of progression. We have re-allocated additional hardware and software across the school so that EYFS/KS1/LKS2/UKS2 each have their own timetabled hardware to utilise throughout each day, giving children much more access and exposure to computing in many different subjects.

Curriculum Overview: 

Welcome to our Computing page!

We love Computing here at Haslam Park and feel we are on a journey to promote positive digital footprints, be responsible digital citizens, prepare children with the skills they need to be digitally literate and influence the programmers of the future.

The Primary National Curriculum for Computing highlights the deep links with maths, science and design & technology. At the core of this are three key strands: Information Technology, Digital Literacy and Computer Science.

• Information Technology involves the functional use of computers and how we interface with technology using existing hardware. We aim to teach children how to navigate around a variety of devices and software whilst using key functions such as save, find and edit. It also involves understanding the internet and how to search effectively. This is with the aim of being confident and exciting users of technology.
• Digital Literacy involves the deep learning of six core skills: collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, character and communication. It involves the safe and responsible use of technology but crucially the understanding and implementing of these core skills to communicate with others.
• Computer Science involves teaching students reasoning, problem solving and resilience which translate across many different subjects and walks of life. The application of these skills using a computer or other technologies sets apart Computer Science from more functional uses such as word processing and instead involves skills such as coding, analysing and interpreting data.

Digital Citizenship involves the consequences of looking at your online activity and embedding the principles of staying safe online. This involves the children looking at real world examples of online usage and how they approach these sensibly and responsibly. This is a unit that we teach during the year and revisit when appropriate. We look to use events such as Safer Internet Day to showcase this understanding and keep this topic prominent.

In school we recognise the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and its relevance to Computing. We aim to provide our children with new opportunities to learn and explore this aspect of Computing throughout our Curriculum offering and additional opportunities through after school clubs. We hope these can resume again soon with normal school life resuming. We feel we need to teach skills that will prepare our children for the future, as occupations in STEM-related careers are some of the fastest growing of the 21st century and they often have the greatest potential for job growth!

Below is a breakdown of the structure of a typical Computing lesson. Although elements may be adapted, this is the starting point for a lesson structure.

Knowledge Organisers

We use knowledge organisers to help support the children in their learning.

A knowledge organiser is a document,  that contains key facts and information that children should understanding and be able to recall in a topic.

Most knowledge organisers will include:

• the essential facts about the topic
• key vocabulary or technical terms and their meanings
• images, diagrams and tables