Curriculum Statement – Computing
“A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.”
National Curriculum, Computing
Intent
At Christ Church First School we deliver the computing National Curriculum objectives through the Purple Mash Scheme of learning. Via Purple Mash, computing is organised into three core strands outlined in the National Curriculum: computational thinking, digital literacy and information technology. These three strands are taught through weekly computing lessons for all children in Year 1-4. Children in our school use their digital literacy skills in a cross-curricular manner to create content in subjects such as Mathematics, English, History, Science and Design and Technology. We support the children to fine tune their research and data gathering skills using ICT. Through this approach we aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
An integral element of computing at Christ Church is teaching the children how to use the internet safely and responsibly both in the school and in the wider community. We aim to achieve this objective through whole school and class assemblies, e-safety letters and focused lessons throughout the school year.
Through our computing curriculum, we want to ensure every child leaves Christ Church First School with the knowledge, skills and understanding to be a responsible, competent, confident and creative user of information and communication technology.
Implementation
As Computing is a statutory subject, all children in Year 1-4 have a ‘Computing’ lesson at least once a week as well as the subject being taught discreetly within other subjects. Computing is mapped out across the curriculum using the Purple Mash scheme of work, focusing on the objectives stated in the National Curriculum.
The Purple Mash scheme of work enables clear coverage of the computing curriculum whilst also providing support and CPD for less confident teachers to deliver lessons.
Purple Mash units are practical and engaging and allow computing lessons to be hands on. Units cover a broad range of computing components such as coding, spreadsheets, internet and email, databases, communication networks, touch typing, animation and online safety. Through our Purple Mash subscription our teachers can deliver thematic, cross curricular lessons that also follow children’s interests and provide flexibility. Purple Mash has an online portal of age-appropriate software, games and activities as well as topic materials and materials to support children’s learning in other subject areas for all key stages.
Throughout Key Stage 1, children are taught to use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content. In Key Stage 2, children select, use and combine a variety of software on an assortment of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplishes given goals. Children across school are encouraged to use technology where appropriate to support their learning in all subjects.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage our children recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. The children have opportunities to select and use technology for particular purposes. The children will develop their knowledge and understanding of internet safety as they explore the world around them and recognise how technology is an everyday part of their learning and understanding of the world.
Our Reception children have the opportunities to learn how to:
- Operate simple equipment.
- Retrieve information from computers.
- Complete simple programs on a computer.
- Use ICT hardware to interact with age appropriate computer software.
Impact
The delivery of our Computing curriculum is high quality and has been structured to demonstrate a progression of knowledge and skills whilst ensuring that our children can build on their understanding as each new concept and skill is taught.
The children at Christ Church are confident users of technology both in school and at home. All children are well equipped with the necessary skills to help themselves stay safe online and are confident to seek help if issues arise. Our children demonstrate that they are able to apply the British Values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems. The children recognise the importance of this in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving.
The impact of our computing curriculum can not only be seen in displays around school, on the children’s individual Purple Mash profiles and on Seesaw but can also can be measured by speaking to the children themselves. The teaching of the computing curriculum enables our children to use technology with confidence.