Computing

Intent:

As a school, we will be using Purple Mash as our Computing Scheme of Work from Reception to Year 6. This is to ensure continuity and progression of skills across the school. The scheme of work supports our teachers to deliver fun and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all pupils to achieve their full potential. We are confident that the scheme meets the national vision for Computing. It provides immense flexibility, strong cross-curricular links and integrates perfectly with the 2Simple Computing Assessment Tool.

Furthermore, it gives excellent supporting material for less confident teachers.

Our aims and objectives:

Children;

• 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
• Computing is organised into three core strands outlined in the National Curriculum: Computer Science, Digital Literacy and Information Technology.
• Promote spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils. Develop high standards of discipline, social awareness and consideration for others. Encourage all children to take responsibility for their actions and choices.
• The national curriculum is being followed through ‘Purplemash’ to ensure clear progression of skills for each year group. This will provide a secure foundation and meets the needs for our pupils.
• Subject leader has a clear understanding of the Purplemash Scheme of work and ensures that the curriculum meets national requirements. The subject leader ensures that all teachers are aware of expectations for their own year groups and know starting and end points; enable pupils to build their knowledge and skills towards the agreed end points.
• Purplemash Scheme of work promotes progressions and sequential learning throughout the school, where children can build upon previous knowledge.
• The subject leader ensures the content is taught in a logical progression, systematically and explicitly enough for all pupils to acquire the intended knowledge and skills
• Subject lead has ensured colleagues have access to appropriate resources to ensure delivery of a rich and challenging new curriculum.
• Staff have had necessary CPD to support their teaching of the curriculum and assessment.

Implementation:

• Aim to deliver a curriculum that inspires enthusiasm for learning, where teachers have good subject knowledge of Computing and that an environment is supportive and they have the necessary equipment to succeed.
• Staff will have clear computing subject knowledge through using the Purplemash scheme and appropriate CPD.
• Equip pupils with skills, strategies and knowledge that will enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves or others.
• Giving children opportunities to use computing from Reception so that they can develop skills early in life and build on them as they progress through the school.
• Through rigorous monitoring of the subject, the leader is confident that teaching within the subject is strong and promotes the acquisition of key knowledge, building on prior learning; through observations, work scrutiny and pupil discussions
• The subject leader will oversee assessment and will use it well to see how teachers check understanding, inform future teaching, ensure yearly end points have been achieved.
• The subject leader ensures they are making best use of financial and human resources to impact on standards;
• The subject leader will ensure that staff are given CPD if/when necessary to support the delivery of the curriculum.
• Assessment judgements will link with the evidence collated for each child. These maybe in the form of observations, discussions with the children or work that has been produced and can be accessed from purplemash.
• Pupil attainment is assessed using the 2Simple Computing Assessment Tool for Years 1 to 6. The tool enables staff to accurately identify attainment of pupils through the detailed exemplification it has for each key learning intention.
• Formative assessment is undertaken each session/interaction in Computing and pupils are very much encouraged to be involved in that process. Through using the progression of skills documents and displays from 2Simple, both teachers and pupils can evaluate progress.
• Computing is mapped out across the curriculum using the Purple Mash scheme of work focusing on the objectives stated in the National Curriculum.

Impact:

• Children in the Early Years will have access to a range of devices and remote controlled toys and resources so that they can explore simple technologies independently and use them in their learning and play. Throughout Key Stage 1, children are taught to use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content. In Key Stage 2, children select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplishes given goals. Children across school are encouraged to use technology where appropriate to support their learning in all subjects and to share their work on relevant platforms.
• The impact of computing is monitored and evaluated through firstly pupil voice and evidence of work. This gives a clear understanding of what is being delivered and the quality.
• Staff surveys will be used to give evidence of the impact of staff confidence in the subject and the further need for any training in specific areas which will be provided by Subject Leader or Purplemash team.
• Vulnerable groups of pupils are taught the same skills, knowledge and understanding through our computing curriculum. Where they need support to access the curriculum teachers adapt to the needs of the individual child.
• We believe that when assessing computing, it is important to look for evidence of knowledge of understanding as well as technical skills. Asking pupils to talk about what they have learned as well as showing the work they have completed, provide important evidence of learning. We assess through observation of work on tasks and pupil voice.

Progression of Curriculum