Our Computing Curriculum

Intent

At Churchill Primary School, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of technology is of increasing importance for children’s future at school, home and for future employment. Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed. Our intention is that Computing also supports children’s creativity and cross curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school.

‘We learnt how computers give instructions and acted our own instructions out.  This is called an algorithm.’ William - Year 1

‘I liked it on j2code when we got to draw.’ Anna - Year 2

‘I like using Scratch as you can create your own ideas and it is really fun.’ Tom – Y5

Implementation

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to nurture and inspire all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be, by challenging themselves to achieve greatness and to live life and learn in all its fullness. We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. As we continue to develop our computing curriculum, we look for ways which our learning and computer skills can have an impact within the wider Churchill community and our local area.

To ensure a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught across three main strands: digital literacy, computer science and information technology. As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT for example writing and presenting as well as exploring art and design using multimedia. Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of ICT and the ability to apply these skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems for example understanding safe use of internet, networks and email.

‘I enjoy coding because you can be creative and share ideas within a team.’ Arlo – Y5

In computer science we teach children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.

Also, to analyse problems to computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.

We also teach a progression of Computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding.

As a learning school we look to continually enhance our offer to pupils.  Over the next year we are planning to we give children access to a wide range of resources and provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills.

Online safety is taught at the start of each term – Autumn, Spring and Summer – and is the focus of cross curricular learning during the national ‘Online Safety Week’.

‘We have been learning how to check what we see online by asking our parents or teachers to check another website.’ George – Y1

‘We tried to trick each other by writing three facts about our favourite animals.  Two facts were true and one was a lie!’ Amelia – Y1

‘It was really fun learning about internet safety and how I can keep myself safe online when using devices at home.’ Darcey – Y5

Online safety procedures are frequently communicated with all staff and parents within the whole school community.

Impact

The implementation of this curriculum ensures that when children leave Churchill Primary School, they are competent and safe users of ICT with an understanding of how technology works. They will have developed skills to express themselves and be creative in using digital media and be equipped to apply their skills in Computing to different challenges which they will face as they progress through education and modern-day life. Children at Churchill Primary School overwhelmingly enjoy computing, and this results in motivated learners with a secure understanding of computing and the knowledge of and desire to achieve and succeed in a career within the everchanging digital world. 

‘I find programming really fun and interesting, especially when there is a problem, and you have to debug your code.’ Immy – Y5

‘I liked typing up our Guy Fawkes fact files and making them look really important.’ Bella – Y2

‘I enjoy using different software to present my work in different ways: PowerPoint, Word, Publisher or Scratch.’ Erin – Y5