At Heartwood Primary School, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of computing is of increasing importance for children’s future both at home and for employment. Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety based on a model by Purple Mash. This ensures that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.

Our intention is that Computing also supports children’s creativity and cross curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school. Children will also learn about key figures in the technical world and their impact on how we use technology today. 

We follow the Purple Mash curriculum for the main parts of teaching the Computing curriculum along with other programmes and resources to provide rich and varied opportunities to apply the knowledge they have acquired. Children are issued an access code for home use. 

How do we teach computing?

Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision of making a difference. We teach using the scheme of work suggested by Purple Mash, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through computing for example writing and presenting as well as exploring art and design using multimedia. Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of computing and the ability to apply these skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems for example understanding safe use of internet, networks and email. In computer science we teach children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. Also to analyse problems to computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. We also teach a progression of Computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding. At Heartwood Primary, we give children access to a wide range of good quality resources and provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills. Online safety is taught both within Computing lesson and Life Skills lessons. Online safety procedures are communicated with all staff and parents. Our computing curriculum is further enriched by trips and experience days to engage children in first had, hands on experiences outside the classroom to create lasting memories for children to hook new learning onto. 

Technical Vocabulary 

Vocabulary as in all subjects is essential for success in computing, although some of it very complex and new. Please see our year group glossaries for computing vocabulary and terms to know more. 

Online Safety

In simple terms, online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets. 

We must give our children the declarative and procedure knowledge and vocabulary to keep themselves safe online.

At Heartwood online safety is: 

• Taught as part of Purple Mash 
• Taught within each Computing session and when using technology
• Taught on the first Monday of every half term in Life Skills (see below) this will respond to current issues and build on the prior learning  
• Taught in immediate response to any media, parent, pupil disclosures and relevant concerns ie. Squid Game 
• Taught through online safety book spine 

Although the new EYFS curriculum does not specifically include computing and technology any more we have built into our curriculum at Heartwood to ensure that our children are coming into Year 1 prepared to thrive in comporting. 

The National Curriculum 

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Aims

The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation

• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems

• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems

• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Key stage 1

• understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions

• create and debug simple programs

• use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs

• use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content

• recognise common uses of information technology beyond school

• use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

• Key stage 2

  Pupils should be taught to:

• design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
• use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
• use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
• understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
• use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
• select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

The Nicholas Hamond Academy

Our curriculum is designed to prepare the children for the next stages in their education in each subject. Our curriculum map plans to support the declarative and procedural knowledge needed for the children to access and thrive in computer science in KS3

TNHA ICT Curriculum Page