Computing

We Learn, We Respect, We Succeed!

Computing Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Brentnall Academy, we believe that a high-quality computing education will equip children to use computational and creative thinking to understand and change the world. We aim to provide children the education and experiences in order for them to learn how to use a varied choice of technology ensuring they are digitally literate to be successful creators not consumers.

We intend for the children to be respectful and safe online and are articulate in explaining how to do so.

The aim is to raise the profile of computing across school and explore being digitally literate across the curriculum to make learning creative and accessible which will allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We want our children to be fluent with a range of tools and to understand the importance of this to become active participants in a digital world and to understand this will play a pivotal role in their lives.

Implementation

We have an organised curriculum to cover the main objectives for each key stage and clear progression is made from EYFS to Year 6 in terms of depth of understanding and reasoning. Children can transfer reasoning skills from maths to be able to give a detailed response to explain how some algorithms work and to detect and correct errors through the process of de-bugging. Their skill set enhances through key stages as they learn to create and debug simple programs to being able to create more advanced programs.

Children have a clear understanding how to be respectful and safe with technology recognising acceptable and unacceptable use and behaviour. This is articulated and applied to show they are successful at being safe. Children know what to do to report concerns about content and contact. This work is delivered through the E-Aware where regular assessments are taken and the data is analysed to ensure all children have made progress with their understanding of being safe online.

A coding club is in place to raise the profile of computing across year groups. This then creates scope and opportunity for outside of school workshops and trips to expand their knowledge of coding and computational thinking.

Children can select and use a range of digital devices and use this in order to carry out cross-curricular activities. They are aware that using a variety of technology is still using their computational and creative thinking even if in a History lesson e.g.

  • I can use search technologies effectively.
  • I can explain how search engines work and how results are selected and ranked.
  • I can demonstrate the strategies I would apply to be discerning in evaluating digital content.
  • I can describe how some online information can be opinion and can offer examples.

Children will be aware when algorithms are used in other lessons such as instruction writing in English and are using this vocabulary across the curriculum. This is how we want computing to look across the curriculum, evidenced in other subjects embedded into the curriculum.

Impact

The impact this has on children is being able to articulate their learning across the curriculum through explaining ‘why’. We encourage learners to be reflective and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being and to understand the impact computing will have on their future life.

Clear progression from EYFS to Key stage 2 is evident through confidence and ability on technical devices.

The profile of computing is raised and purposeful and children are excited to attend the coding club to learn new skills.

Children are aware of how to use these skills in the future/digital world.

Further Information

  • For information on the National Curriculum for Computing please click here
  • For information on our school’s Long Term Plans for Computing please click here
  • For more information on how Computing is taught within Early Years please click here

Online Safety

Images from itsnotokay.co.uk

 

e-Safety

e-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Brentnall Academy. We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any e-Safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with our e-Safety Policy. e-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online through the e-Aware scheme. This encourages children to think about the effects of screen time and time online as well as age restrictions, gaming, positive communication and their digital footprint.

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the e-Safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online. Further information about age restrictions and safety online can be found on these websites:

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Images from nationalonlinesafety.com