Intent

Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching Computing, we equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology.

It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also focus on developing the skills necessary for children to be able to access and use information effectively.

Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be successful, confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.

With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children need to be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. This equips them to use 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. At Ingham Primary School, pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, from iPads, Chromebooks and laptops to devices for recording images, video and sound, allowing them to continually practice and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

We teach a curriculum that enables children to become effective users of technology who can:

· Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computing, including logic, algorithms and data representation

· Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve (debug) problems

· Explore fake news, copyright issues and be discerning users of online information

· Communicate ideas well by using devices throughout all areas of the curriculum, where possible

· Use IT safely; making safe and considered choices to become responsible online citizens

Implementation

Ingham Primary School have adopted The Kapow Primary Computing Scheme of Work. It is organised into five key areas, creating a cyclical route through which the pupils can develop their computing knowledge and skills by revisiting and building on previous learning:

· Computer Systems and Networks

· Programming

· Creating Media

· Data Handling

· Online Safety

Lessons incorporate a range of strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This means lessons can appeal to children with a range of learning styles. Knowledge organises are introduced at the start of each unit and referred to when looking at vocabulary and key knowledge.

Impact

The impact of the Kapow Computing Curriculum can be monitored through both formative and summative assessments. Each lesson contains guidance to support class teachers in assessing pupil knowledge against the key objectives and each unit has a unit quiz which can be used to support teacher judgement. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. Following the Kapow Computing Scheme, pupils will:

· Be able to talk about their learning

· Be able to be critical thinkers and know how to make informed and appropriate decisions and digital choices in the future

· Be able to understand how to balance time spent on technology and away from it in a healthy manner

· Know different types of software and hardware that can help them achieve a broad variety of aims

· Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a team

· Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with potential problems in a responsible and appropriate manner

· Have an awareness of the developments in technology and have an idea about how current technologies work and relate to each other