Intent
Willow Bank Junior School understands and values the importance of teaching Computing from a young age to prepare them for an ever-changing and technological world. We acknowledge that future generations will rely heavily on their computational confidence and digital skills in order to support their progress within their chosen career paths.
We intend to equip children with the relevant skills and knowledge required to understand the three core areas of Computing:
Computing is an integral part to a child’s education and everyday life. Consequently, we intend to support our pupils to access and understand the core principles of this subject through engaging and activities. Whilst ensuring they understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online.
It has never been more important for parents and carers to understand how their children use the internet and associated technologies, so that they can help to manage the risks that exist and reinforce the important online safety messages that we should all be promoting. With this in mind, we regularly share links and advice on keeping children safe online.
Implementation
At Willow Bank Junior School, our core focus of Computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation. In line with the National Curriculum, we teach children how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.
The aim of our teaching in Computing is to develop the children's digital literacy so that they become confident and competent at expressing themselves through information technology.
Our computing scheme has three overarching strands namely Digital Literacy, Computer Science, and Information Technology.
Digital Literacy – this will include effective use of search technologies, Keeping Safe in the Digital World by using technology safely and respectfully ensuring safe behaviours Online.
Computer Science - this unit focuses on programming, coding and controlling devices but also has aspects of understand computer networks including the internet. We use several programmes to support the children’s learning including Purple Mash 2code, Scratch and Micro:bits.
Information Technology – this will include data, graphics, sound and multimedia. We use a range of programme to support this are including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Purple Mash and Audacity.
Online safety is taught discretely in the 2 strands: Online Safety in a connected world - Keeping Safe Online and Online Safety - Keeping Safe in the Digital World but digital literacy underpins all units and strands where applicable. Throughout the school, we are using the ProjectEvolve lessons to support our teaching. We teach Online Safety in our computing and PSHEC lessons.
Impact
Our children are confident users of technology, able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school. Children have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems. This is important in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving.
In order to be confident in the impact of PSHE across the whole school community, the PSHE leader will monitor the subject through pupil voice discussions, ongoing discussion with colleagues, the monitoring of ICT displays, and through examples of annotated work produced and shared by each year group for block taught.