Computing

Rationale for Teaching Computing

At our school, we believe that every child should feel confident and excited about using technology. Our computing curriculum is designed to help children understand how digital tools work and how they can use them safely, creatively, and responsibly.

From learning how to give instructions to a computer, to making simple programs and creating digital stories or games, children build their skills step by step. We help them to explore how computers and digital systems are used in the world around them—and how they might use these tools to solve problems or bring their ideas to life.

Computing also links closely with subjects like maths, science and design and technology, giving children new ways to think, explore and create. Through these connections, children strengthen important skills such as logical thinking, creativity and teamwork.

We make sure that all children learn how to use technology safely and respectfully. They learn to find and use information online, create their own content, and work together using digital tools. This helps them to become confident communicators and active digital citizens.

Our goal is to give every child the skills and understanding they need to succeed in a digital world—not just today, but in the future. We want them to feel empowered to shape technology, not just use it.

At Eastcroft Park we use the Knowsley CLC scheme of work for computing. The scheme comprises learning in four separate areas: mandatory digital skills, computer science (CS), information technology (IT) & digital literacy (DL).
The scheme takes the form of several distinct units for each year group, most of which consist of units of approximately six lessons, however some shorter units are comprised of fewer lessons (referred to as byte-sized units). Learning is sequential and in many cases builds on learning in previous units of work.

Frequency and range of lessons/activities:

At Eastcroft Park pupils experience computing in weekly lessons of a minimum of one hour. Mandatory digital skills will be covered throughout all units. Vocabulary is introduced regularly and consolidated periodically to ensure that pupils are building a bank of computing vocabulary. Digital skills are also consolidated through the use of these skills in cross-curricular learning delivered by the class teacher or by Knowsley CLC sessions.

Inclusion:

Tasks and activities in computing lessons at Eastcroft are designed to be accessible while still containing challenging components. All activities can be accessed by all as learning can be recorded in a range of ways such as voice recording and capturing images/video rather than needing to write responses. For advanced learners, the units also contain challenge questions for pupils to develop their higher-order thinking skills.

Recording:

Recording in computing is done using a range of digital methods: using pre-determined apps (E.g. scratch Jnr for KS1 coding); typing & presentation; drawing; capturing images/videos and voice recording are just some of the methods used. Learning is combined using digital journals (Book creator e-books/Keynote presentations) & uploaded to Seesaw once units are completed. The only exceptions to this are in EYFS and early Y1 where the majority of children do not yet possess the digital skills to complete the digital e-books. Staff capture learning observations using Seesaw in reception and/or record in a learning journal& staff will record/upload observations in early Y1 and these will be uploaded to Seesaw and/or record in a learning journal.

EYFS:

In EYFS pupils at Eastcroft Park begin to explore basic mandatory digital skills but also the very early stages of computer science (CS), information technology (IT) & digital literacy (DL) in their weekly sessions. Although technology has now been removed from the new EYFS 2021 framework, we still cover it as the bank of digital skills and online safety elements are vital, even from an early age.

Assessment:

Children will be continually be assessed throughout their learning through prompt questions and informal quizzes throughout the lesson sequences. This will aid sticky knowledge assimilation.
Records of progress will be made against mandatory digital skills along with year-group specific objectives will be tracked using assessment spreadsheets for each individual class.