Computing
The Co-ordinator is Miss Cocks
Intent
At St Joseph’s we believe that Computing should be stand alone where children can learn transferable skills to use cross curricular. Computing is an essential part of everyday life therefore we need to equip our children with the rapid-changing world where technology has a leading role. Throughout educating our children, they should be at the forefront of new technology, developing a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding. We want our children to be confident in using technology in different ways to that they leave school computer literate. We do this by teaching the children computational thinking to enable them to participate effectively and safely in the digital world.
Implementation
At St Joseph’s we follow a scheme of work, Kapow, that enables all of our teachers to be confident in delivering computing lessons that teach children fundamental skills that they will continue to develop and revisit over their time at school.
EYFS
Our EYFS team concentrate on the early journey of children becoming confident in the use of ICT equipment and using it in a safe manor as they understand what an important part it plays in the world around them. Children in EYFS engage in play based, unplugged activities that focus on building children’s listening skills, curiosity and creativity and problem solving.
KS1
Throughout our KS1 classes, the children will be made increasingly aware about using technology safely and respectfully. Children will begin to understand algorithms and being to program on digital devices and learn to debug simple programs, using their logical reasoning. They will be shown how to use a range of technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content as well as recognise common uses of information technology beyond school.
KS2
Throughout KS2 the children will continue to develop their debugging skills as they begin to design, and write programs with specific goals. Children will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet, and the opportunities they offer for communication. They will being to understand how searching online can provide a variety of results and will be taught how to recognise which websites are trustworthy and have reliable information. They will use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly and be able to identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
Impact
Children at St Joseph’s will be equipped, not only to effectively apply their skills and knowledge of many areas of computing – but can do so safely. Children will have accessed all elements of computing: IT, computer science, safety and digital literacy. We hope that going forward with all of the knowledge they have acquired our children have a great understanding of how to keep themselves safe online; are confident and independent when using technology and can use their skills to problem solve.
EYFS
Here at St Joseph’s Computing is the perfect opportunity for children to build their resilience, it gives them the chance to show independence and perseverance when facing a challenge. Living in a technological world, it is important our children have the knowledge, from an early age, how to be safe online and begin to explore their digital literacy skills.
The most relevant statements for computing are taken from the following areas of learning:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
In Early Year Foundation Stage we aim to allow the children the opportunity to explore technology in a carefree and child-led way, meaning that not only will they develop a familiarity with equipment and vocabulary but they will have will be able to readily access the KS1 curriculum by the end of the year.
Computing
Technology will play a vital part in all of our children's lives in one ways or another. We aim to prepare them for life in this digital world by providing a high quality education which encourages them to use technology in a variety of different ways and develop computational thinking. Computing has very strong links with a variety of different subjects, including mathematics, science, art and design technology. It is also crucial in developing the children's ability to think logically and systematically.
Children will be taught about algorithms, data and other principles of computer science. They will have numerous practical experiences of writing and analysing computer programs for different purposes. Pupils will also be taught about a variety of other pieces of software which they will use to achieve different outcomes in their learning. They may use technology to produce written pieces, create presentations, edit sound and video, produce graphs and charts, produce animations and more.
Children have access to Chromebooks and in UKS2 Physical Computing devices: Microbits. The classes also have access to a small bank of iPads. All Chromebooks are equipped with the latest versions of Microsoft products and contain specific, child friendly software for delivering programming lessons.
Safe Computing
At St Joseph's, we believe that the teaching children how to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly is as important as the teaching of how to use software and programming.
Children will be given specific sessions on online safety throughout the year. This are embedded throughout our curriculum via Kapow, Project Evolve and Kid Safe. They will be taught about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour when using ICT and when spending time online. Children in all year groups will be given a range of strategies for reporting concerns about content and behaviour that they may be subject to.