“The computer was born to solve problems that did not exist before.”
Bill Gates
Intent:
To make learning as interesting, meaningful and engaging as possible, we have a Curious Curriculum. This is a knowledge based curriculum with each theme and subsequent lesson starting with an enquiry question. Children are active participants in their learning journey; we promote skills in creativity and develop critical thinking by following a line of enquiry.
All pupils at Warbstow School have the right to have rich, deep learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils 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. The core of computing is Computer Science in which pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology allowing them to continually practice and improve the skills they learn. As a school 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 use information in an effective way.
Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this.
Our curriculum is ambitious and designed to give all pupils, particularly children with SEND the knowledge they need to succeed in life. Learning is adapted to be ambitious yet allows children to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities to apply what they know and can do with increasing fluency and independence. Universal Provision strategies are implemented to scaffold and support learning.
Implementation:
At Warbstow our Computing curriculum is planned with a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. We follow the Digital Cornwall curriculum.
To ensure a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught across three main strands: digital literacy, computer science and information technology. As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT for example writing and presenting as well as exploring art and design using multimedia. Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of ICT and the ability to apply these skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems for example understanding safe use of internet, networks and email. In computer science we teach children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. Also to analyse problems to computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. We also teach a progression of Computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding.
We give children access to a wide range of good quality resources and provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills. Online safety is taught within each Computing lesson as a short starter activity as well as being taught through online safety assemblies and as a unit each year. Online safety procedures are communicated with all staff and parents.
A variety of assessment approaches are used from observations, marking, white board ‘show me’ and informal assessments. This informs future planning, ensures any misconceptions are responded to and sets the pace of learning appropriately.
Early Years:
It is important in the Early Years stage of schooling to give children a broad, play based experience of computing in a range of contexts, including outdoor play. Children in the Early Years, experience a wide range of technologies throughout their play including; iPads, computers, cameras, Beebots and interactive whiteboards. They use these forms of technologies to access age-appropriate software, to provide opportunities for mark making as well as supporting their imaginative play, often re-enacting real life experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. Children thrive on the ability to incorporate technology into their learning and through careful planning of their continuous provision, Early Years practitioners are able to provide a number of devices for children to use competently and independently, to support child led learning. In addition to this, technology is a fantastic tool to enable children to build confidence, control and improve language development through specific online programs.
Key Stage One and Two:
We ensure that sufficient time is given to Art and Design, in order to enable pupils to meet the expectations set out in the National Curriculum programme of study. The Computing curriculum is coherent and shows progression. We take stimulus from Digital Learning Cornwall. This enables us to ensure that:
- Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- Children can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Opportunities for applying skills and the safe use of digital systems through many curriculum subjects and through extra-curricular provision are provided. A Coding club has proven to be a popular club, where children are able to extend their knowledge of the computing world around them. Members of the group have taken part in teaching their peers new skills needed during computing lessons.
Impact:
We strive to ensure that every child can become a confident user of technology, while being able to use it to accomplish a wide variety of goals, both at home and in school. Children will have a secure and comprehensive knowledge of the implications of technology and digital systems by the time they leave our school. This is important in a society where technologies and trends are rapidly evolving. They will be able to apply the British values of democracy, tolerance, mutual respect, rule of law and liberty when using digital systems, which will hold them in great stead in their future endeavours.
