Underpinning our use of technology within our school, we have a keen focus on internet safety and the issues that children and adults alike can encounter when navigating a world in which digital technology is more and more widely used within our everyday lives. We regularly discuss these potentially problematic aspects of our technology use and engage children and parents alike in our discussions.
The Subject Leader:
I am Mr Brown and I am a class teacher and the subject leader for computing here at Eaton Park Academy. As the computing leader, my role is to support staff with their continued professional development, map out the curriculum objectives progressively and to monitor the delivery of the subject throughout the school. I do this through lesson observations, regular conversations with the teaching team and through talking to the pupils in order to get their perspectives on what is working well within our school and what we would like to change moving forward. We want children at Eaton Park Academy to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities. To help ensure that we deliver the very best for our children, I also work closely with other members of the Alpha Academies Trust and with mentors from the National Centre for Computing Education, who give excellent advice on supporting our learners most effectively and help us to ensure a smooth transition from primary to secondary.
There will be also be an embedded approach on how technology can further improve learning and prepare children for later life, not only within the computing curriculum, but also how technology can be used and connects to the wider curriculum as well. This will be developed with further close collaboration across the other Alpha Academies Trust and the Trust’s Digital Leadership teams.
Here at Eaton Park Academy, the computing curriculum is split into three main areas: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Online safety is a key element of Digital Literacy and here at Eaton Park Academy we have an online safety calendar with monthly events to ensure that it is always at the forefront of our minds.
The Curriculum:
The objectives for Computing in KS1 and KS2 are clearly set out for each year group in the National Curriculum:
Key stage 1 Pupils should be taught to:
- understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- create and debug simple programs
- use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.
Key stage 2 Pupils should be taught to:
- design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
- use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
- select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
- use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
Early Years Foundation Stage:
Within our Nursery and Reception classrooms, the children have regular access to computers with appropriate games and apps to support their learning, such as drawing with shapes. A range of technology is readily available to enhance their learning experience through computing, such as: programmable toys, an interactive whiteboard, computers and CD players. The use of computing throughout EYFS makes a significant contribution to developing a child’s understanding of the world (UTW) especially their understanding of technology.
Assessment for learning:
Children are continuously assessed through Assessment for Learning (AFL) during each computing lesson as well as in their ability to use technology during other lessons. Children are assessed as to whether they are Emerging, Securing and Exceeding within these areas. This is used to provide accurate information to all teachers, the computing subject leader termly and during times of transition.
Computing within other curriculum subjects:
SMSC
Spiritual –.Within the computing curriculum, there opportunities for children to enhance their spiritual development by working collaboratively across year bands,
Moral – Moral development is weaved through the tireless work of promoting Cyber-safety and e-safety through a Safer Internet Day, displays in each classroom with links to QR codes that provides further information.
Social – Computing supports social development through understanding computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the World Wide Web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.
Cultural – Comparing the use of technology in our culture and others highlights to the children the importance of cultural development and the need to appreciate and respect others.
English – English provides children with the opportunities to use technology to research, word process and present their work digitally in many different ways.
Maths – During Maths lessons children are often directed to access relevant games or apps to help them learn, practise or apply the concept that has been taught in class. Indeed, as a regular part of our homework here at Eaton Park Academy, the children access Times Table Rock Stars and enter competitions to increase their speed of recall.
PSHE – Much of our Digital Literacy element of the computing curriculum links very closely with the PSHE curriculum, we learn about keeping ourselves safe online, the effects of cyberbullying and how we can be good digital citizens.
Geography – The use of technology within these lessons allows children to view and access other parts of the world from their classroom. Alongside traditional maps and atlases, online apps such as Google Maps help the children to explore the world around them.
History – In a similar vein to Geography, through the use of video and appropriate apps, children can see moments from history, experience how life would have differed in different time periods, and conduct their own research into historical eras using their understanding of search engines and the internet.
