'Technology is best when it brings people together' - Matt Mullenweg
At Tywardreath School our vision is to create a safe and stimulating environment where all children feel they belong and are able to challenge themselves, take risks and flourish both academically and socially. To develop our children so that they value and respect their own and others individuality, culture and heritage. We are committed to providing a place of excellence with high standards.
To achieve our vision all our children should:
Enjoy their primary school years and develop high self-esteem regardless of ‘academic’ ability.
- Feel safe and secure and have a passion for learning and experience success.
- Develop perseverance, flexibility, independence in a wide range of learning skills.
- Be well mannered, respecting themselves, others and the environment.
- Make a positive contribution to the school and the wider community.
- Enjoy equal opportunities to succeed
- Develop lively, inquiring minds and become confident communicators.
- Experience teaching of the highest quality and develop core skills to a high level.
- Appreciate the beauty, the diversity of the world and their duty to protect it.
Intent:
At Tywardreath School, we aim to prepare our children for a rapidly changing technological world. Technology is everywhere and will play an important role in our pupils’ lives now and in the future. We aim to model and educate pupils on how to use technology, data, information and communication technology positively and responsibly in order to equip them with the capability to become competent digital citizens.
Our computing curriculum is made up of three distinct strands:
- Computer science– The foundations of understanding computing in which pupils develop computational thinking and learn how digital systems work through programming and algorithms.
- Information technology– Pupils learn to use computer systems and networks to creatively and purposefully manipulate a range of digital content.
- Digital literacy -Pupils become digitally literate through developing the basic functional skills needed to use technology confidently and effectively.
Teachers make effective use of technology to enhance and enable teaching and learning across the curriculum in order to engage learners, promote achievement and develop digital literacy skills
Implementation
To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in computing, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Our implementation of the computing curriculum is in line with 2014 Primary National Curriculum requirements for KS1 and KS2 and the Foundation Stage Curriculum in England. This provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each key stage.
We use and follow Purple Mash scheme of work from EYFS to Year 6, ensuring consistency and progression through the school.
The Purple Mash scheme of work enables clear coverage of the computing curriculum whilst also providing support and CPD for staff.
Lessons are broken down into weekly units, usually with two units taught per half-term. Units are practical and engaging and allow computing lessons to be hands on. Units cover a broad range of computing components such as coding, spreadsheets, Internet and Email, Databases, Communication networks, touch typing, animation and online safety.
When teaching computing teachers can follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced. Teachers should ensure that ICT and computing capability is also achieved through core and foundation subjects and where appropriate and necessary ICT and computing should be incorporated into work for all subjects using our wide range of interactive ICT resources.
Through our Purple Mash subscription our teachers can deliver thematic, cross curricular lessons that also follow children’s interests and provide flexibility. Purple Mash has an online portal of age-appropriate software, games and activities as well as topic materials and materials to support children’s learning in other subject areas for all key stages.
Computing teaching is practical and engaging and a variety of teaching approaches and activities are provided based on teacher judgement and pupil ability. We have a wide range of resources to support our computing teaching. Pupils may use laptops or iPads independently, in pairs or in a group with the teacher. Teachers and pupils are also aware of the importance of health and safety and pupils are always supervised when using technology and accessing the internet.
Online Safety
We greatly value the use of technology in a safe and respectful manner. As well as teaching children about online safety through their computing lessons and the Natterhub programme, we take part in the National Safer Internet Day and deliver regular safety workshops using The Staysafe Initiative, to positively reinforce the key messages around staying safe online. Parents are made aware of online safety via the school website, Facebook, monthly newsletters, home learning activities and in-school workshops. Parents are also encouraged to access our Online Safety page of the website.
Impact:
Our Computing Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different computational components and alike other subjects discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work.
If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress.
Pupil’s computing knowledge is assessed at the end of each topic. We use a range of assessment for learning strategies including:
- Questioning, feedback and peer assessment
- Formative assessments during lessons
- Pre and post assessment including low stake quizzing, pupil conferencing, problem solving investigations.