Intent

During their time at Appleby Primary School pupils it is our intention to prepare them for the constantly evolving world in which they live.  The role technology plays in our lives is more significant than ever before. With this in mind, we aim to equip our pupils with the skills they need to thrive and become creative and analytical thinkers, who operate safely in a digital world.   

Our curriculum ensures that children are confident users of IT across a range of devices and platforms. Cultivated as part of our computing curriculum and when appropriate digital literacy skills are used to support learning in other areas of the curriculum.  Computing has clear links to subjects across the curriculum from mathematics to music and children will be able to apply their skills.

Pupils at Appleby Primary School can;

• Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.  

• Analyse problems in computational terms, and have practical experience of writing computer programs to solve problems and debug their programs to ensure they are accurate.
• Communicate ideas well by using a range of devices and software in both computing lessons and other areas of the curriculum.
• Are responsible, confident and competent users of information and communication technology.  

Internet Safety

Appleby Primary School takes e-safety very seriously. Staff and parents are regularly trained using the latest information available through the CEOP ambassador programme. Children receive regular e-safety assessment and lessons through both Project Evolve and during PSHE lessons.  Children are able to explain how to exist safely in a digital world and can consider the impact that their digital footprint can have on both themselves and others.

Implementation

 We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow a tailor-made computing curriculum which was written in conjunction with CAS using elements of the Teach Computing curriculum, Discovery Education and physical resources where appropriate.

Children will revisit prior learning regularly and use consistent terminology as children progress in order to manage their cognitive load. Each individual skill taught is revisited in later years to ensure that learning can be embedded. Children use a variety of skills and programs to develop their digital literacy and computational thinking skills. This enables them to be confident users of information technology, both familiar and new.

All classes will have a scheduled Computing lesson each week and there will be an expectation that technology will be utilised throughout other lessons in the curriculum. Where appropriate these lessons take place in our computing suite using desktop and laptop computers, many units are taught using in class iPads, giving children confidence with a range of devices.  Technology is also used to support intervention with the use of Lexia.

Children’s work will be recorded in a variety of ways, from Computing books for certain units in Key Stage One to pieces of music or videos that have been created in Key Stage Two. Our programming units are taught through Discovery Education and offer a gradual building of skills using block coding.

We want to ensure that Computing is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that children are given opportunities

Impact

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression whilst supporting children’s cognitive load. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress and those who are not are supported by a teacher within lessons, or by scaffolding which is planned within the curriculum. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:   

• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes   

• Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. 
• Children can analyse problems in computational terms and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. 
• Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems. 
• Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.   
• Assessment of e-safety strands through Project Evolve knowledge maps.

• Pupil discussions about their learning.   

Our Computing curriculum is planned in a way which promotes the cultural capital of all our children. We ensure that children are engaged with the curriculum by using up to date resources and apps, giving children a rich, deep range of experiences working with IT. In 2019 we took part in the First Lego League and we intend to do so again in future.