Computing
Computing at Sandiway Primary School
Together, we take our children on a journey that is engaging, exciting and empowering for all.
The subject leader for computing in our school is: Mrs Clare Forsyth
At Sandiway Primary school we aim to:
Engage: Provide an exciting, rich, relevant and challenging curriculum that balances all the aspects of computing to help equip the children to participate effectively and safely in their computational thinking.
Excite: Equip children to use technology that will support their creativity and technical learning to engage, enthuse and enrich their experiences in school.
Empower: To prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever-changing digital world.
What does our Computing curriculum look like?
Computing is taught using the National Curriculum objectives as a starting point. Units cover the three strands of computing content to ensure a spread of complimentary opportunities and skills and to ensure curriculum coverage. Links are only made to other curriculum areas when appropriate. Termly enquiry-based questions are set for the children to explore, giving them the opportunity to experiment, practise and reflect on their learning. Our computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.
How is Computing structured at Sandiway Primary School?
Staff have the knowledge, expertise and skills to successfully implement computing within their year group. Planning on a page is clearly detailed with all the questions, skills and vocabulary needed for each unit. Knowledge organisers show the learning that is aspired to for each lesson. To meet the needs of the children in our school, over-arching enquiry-based questions are set at the beginning of each unit. Questions are then used to break down the knowledge and skills required to enable our children to answer the over-arching question articulately. Knowledge and skills are built upon within and between each computing unit to ensure children’s learning becomes more secure in the long term. The long-term plan for computing is progressive and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. All pupils are challenged to use ambitious, subject specific vocabulary, reflecting the high expectations set for them.
How do we enrich Computing?
It is our aim at Sandiway Primary school to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of computing are of increasing importance for our children’s future both at home and also for their next steps in life. Where possible extra-curricular activities are offered to promote specific computing experiences. After school clubs in the Spring term are run by the subject leader and specific focuses are taught to enhance the children’s learning of computing content.
How do we provide for all learners in Computing?
The computing curriculum delivery is equitable and appropriate for all groups ensuring full access and parity for all pupils. Through our teaching and learning of computing, all children have a positive view of the subject and are able to enthusiastically demonstrate a range of enquiry skills. Children are supported when necessary to enable full access to their learning in computing and the most able are challenged, to ensure everyone can fulfil their potential within the subject.
How do we assess computing?
Computing is assessed termly by class teachers. Judgements are made in relation to how children have approached and accomplished the enquiry questions set within each termly theme. Evidence of this is shared with the subject leader. The Subject Leader also monitors the progress of computing through work scrutiny, pupil voice, work displayed and online evidence. Children’s progress and next steps for the subject then become evident.
How do we support and offer training in computing?
Training is available for staff to develop best practice. Staff have access to support from Purple Mash/subject leader and outside links with high schools to support their teaching of new skills and techniques. Purple Mash enables teachers to have a good subject knowledge to deliver the materials effectively but also using these skills to embed computing across the whole curriculum.
A long term plan is included as a PDF document on this page, as well as an example of our medium term plans. All other documents such as Planning on a page are stored within our curriculum files. (Updated January 2022)