At Neville‘s Cross, we recognise the importance of Computing in preparing our children for the ever-changing digital world that they will grow up in. We want our children to be able to function safely in the digital world, understand how networks connect the world and to be able to create and adapt technology for different purposes.
Our Computing curriculum is designed with our key curriculum drivers in mind:
Creativity – we aim to foster our children’s natural creativity in seeking to understand how the modern world works. We hope they will become creative thinkers who can both use tools to demonstrate their creativity and create tools to do so. Our children will have opportunities to create and edit a range of creative projects using technology – film, music, pictures, photographs, games etc.
Well-being – we aim to support our children in achieving their full potential in computing and to upskill them in the benefits of a digital world but also the dangers they may face online so that they can be confident and resilient users of the internet. We practice patience and resilience while debugging algorithms and learn how our actions online can impact others in both a negative and a positive way. We also teach children what to do if they encounter something that makes them worried or anxious online and to be critical of information, news or adverts that they may see that may have been edited for different purposes.
Our Communities – we aim to develop links with those who use technology within our school and local community as well as developing an understanding of how computing impacts upon communities both locally, nationally and world-wide. Children also learn the impact that they can have in the online community and how to forge a positive online persona.
Computing in the Early Years
In the Early years, computing is taught by use and experimentation with the technology we find around us. It is also seen in the everyday rules and routines that form the algorithms of life in EYFS. Children solve problems and show confidence and resilience when finding solutions and when debugging something that hasn’t worked.
Computing in EYFS at Neville’s Cross
Computing in Key Stage 1 and 2
Computing is planned to ensure children are able to progressively develop and deepen their knowledge and skills as they move through school. Children will develop strong computational thinking skills, building on their firm foundations in the EYFS in order to understand and change their digital world. The core of computing is 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. Building on this knowledge and understanding, our children are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that our children become digitally literate: they are able to use technology fluently to express themselves and develop their ideas at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Computing and Digital Literacy Overview
MT Curriculum Plan – Computing – Years 1 & 2
MT Curriculum Plan – Computing – Years 3 & 4
MT Curriculum Plan – Computing – Years 5 & 6
Learning Links
Throughout EYFS and across both KS1 and KS2, our children will have the opportunity to make links with learning in other subject areas. For example, children will create digital art, master the skills of photography and videography and learn to edit photos and videos. They will use their writing skills to storyboard and make animations and comics and they will create and edit digital music. Links will be formed with the real world as we use our digital skills to be active but critical members of the online world. We want our learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and wellbeing in order to recognise the need for the right balance of screen use.
Impact
At Neville’s Cross, our children will experience and learn a wide range of skills that will make them confident and competent users and creators of technology. They will understand the importance of striking the right balance of using screens and create a healthy scepticism of imagery seen around them. Our children will enjoy using technology as a tool to enhance and demonstrate their understanding of the world.
