Computing
Intent
Within an ever changing and technological world, Wychwood Primary School understands and values the importance of teaching Computing from a young age. We acknowledge that future generations will rely heavily on their computational confidence and digital skills in order to support their progress within their chosen career paths. Whilst ensuring they understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online. Our aim is to provide a computing curriculum that is designed to balance acquiring a broad and deep knowledge alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts.
Implementation
Our Computing curriculum is carefully sequenced for both coverage and progression. The subject lead has identified key knowledge and skills for each unit of work and made links to prior learning, making sure that each unit of work builds on from a previous unit of work. Computing is taught in discrete computing lessons. Teachers use the ‘Purple Mash’ scheme, published by 2Simple. Every lesson in the scheme has been planned so that it can meet the needs of all of our pupils. The subject lead has ensured that the scheme aligns with the National Curriculum ensuring both coverage and progression.
The scheme provides the rich vocabulary required to support children’s computational thinking, opportunities to experience a range of tools and applications whilst ensuring that all learning builds towards achieving specific goals. As well as this, it provides a broad range of curriculum focused activities, tools and programmes, all of which support and inspire learning.
Teachers regularly assess children’s understanding through appropriate questioning and tasks. They will use this to adjust lessons accordingly to ensure that children have understood the content and have acquired the skills needed to do so. Because of the way our curriculum is sequenced, children get the opportunity to revisit many units of work across different phases.
EYFS
Children are provided with a range of opportunities to use different technologies in the classroom. They have opportunities to explore playing with ‘digital’ toys such as microphones, microscopes and using the iPad camera. From Term 3, the children are introduced to MiniMash (the precursor to Purple Mash). The children are taught how to use the mouse, navigate and click on the desired programme and how to go back and choose a new programme. Equipping the children with these skills supports the children as they transition into Year 1 as they have already acquired some early computing skills.
Impact
Our curriculum ensures that children understand the role technology has in school and around the world. Children have a respect for technology and its uses and know how to use technology safely. By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study. Learning walks and pupil interviews demonstrate that children are competent and safe users of ICT and that they are able to retain prior knowledge and use relevant vocabulary.
