Intent
At Horbury St Peter’s and Clifton Primary School, we intend to instill the “St Peter’s and Clifton School Spirit” in all our children. They are encompassed in the learning and teaching of Computing by:
- Service – communication
- Perseverance – debugging, editing, revisiting, saving.
- Inquisitive – researching, learning new skills.
- Respect – GDPR, peer assessment,
- Inspirational – creativity, communication
- Trust – e-safety, teamwork.
It is our intent at Horbury St.Peter’s and Clifton Primary School to provide all of our children with a high-quality education in computing which provides access to an ever changing and expanding digital world. We wish to develop a love of computing and provide children with the ability to enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding through different types of media whilst keeping safety at the forefront of their minds. We believe that this will give our children the tools they need to succeed in a digital world.
In regards to online safety, GDPR will play an important role in allowing children to recognise what information is personal to them and who and when it is safe to share it. To do this effectively, children must have a clear understanding of the meaning of personal information and recognise their own responsibility in safeguarding this. Children will be taught about their digital footprint and where to seek support and advice should they need it. We believe a strong understanding of these things will enable children to access modern technologies and communicate effectively whilst developing an ever increasing understanding of how to keep themselves safe from evolving dangers in the digital world.
At St Peter’s and Clifton Primary school we want children to become digitally literate by developing a range of transferrable skills which can make them active participants in a digital world and prepare them for the world of work. We aim to encourage children to use, express themselves and develop their ideas through a range of information technology.
A core aspect of our computing teaching will be the teaching of 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.
Implementation
At St Peter’s and Clifton Primary School we use computing as an additional tool within our lessons to help children become creative thinkers and access learning in a variety of ways. Lessons are planned to maximize learning potential and a variety digital devices will are used to support this when appropriate. The range of programs and apps children access throughout their time in the school allow them to build a bank of resources to support them in developing their learning and expressing their creativity. Children become digitally literate. To enable all children to access the range of digital devices we have, children all have core skills lessons in line with the progression in core skills and programs documents. This is to enable children to become effective users of not just the software but also the hardware through the development of mouse and keyboard skills and ensure increasing challenge for children as they progress through school.
During the autumn term, specific lessons relating to online safety, GDPR and personal information are taught to the children. GDPR is a key priority with children being taught what we mean by personal information, who should have access to it and how to keep it safe. Children are introduced to safe passwords, safe communication and what to do if they get that ‘uh oh’ feeling. In addition to discreet teaching, this continues to be implemented through other linked lessons and each time children access digital devices.
Children are encouraged to be creative thinkers and designers by first accessing step by step guides of key program building in a range of programs/apps before creating their own designs in a variety of areas.
Impact
Children will have developed the knowledge, skills and understanding to help them access and use a range of technology in a safe and creative way. Children will have developed skills that equip them to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.
Children’s skills will have progressed to enable them to not only have met the requirements of the National Curriculum but to also enjoy using technology to develop knowledge and ideas as well as express themselves safely and creatively as responsible citizens.
The children have access to two dedicated computer suites, including laptops for use in the suite or classroom. The school also provides Netbooks and ipads giving children access to new technologies with the use of learning applications such as tt rockstars and mathletics to improve confidence and consolidate learning in maths. To help improve reading, phonics and spellings we have reading eggs and spelling shed.
Extra computers in the shared space between the year 3 and year 4 classroom and each classroom has an interactive whiteboard, a laptop and a visualiser.
To make sure all our computers and software are up and running at all times, we have the availability of an ICT technician giving support to the school.