Intent
At St. Joseph’s we aim to teach a high quality computing curriculum, which equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to prepare them for the future work place in an ever changing world. Computing at St. Joseph’s ensures that pupils are able to participate safely as citizens in a digital world, where they are encouraged to become computer literate, making informed decisions, expressing themselves and developing ideas through information, communication and technology.
Our approach is to use technology to promote initiative and independent learning across the curriculum and in focussed coding lessons for programming.
Implementation
Our Computing curriculum is embedded in our Learning Challenge curriculum and mapped out to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum objectives. Online safety is a core focus and revisited every half term across all Key stages using a developmental approach based on the Education for a Connected World framework developed by the UK council for Internet Safety.
EYFS: Computing is taught within the Knowledge and Understanding of the World aspect of the Foundation Stage Curriculum. Pupils have opportunities to use technology, including programmable toys and apps on ipads.
KS1 & KS2: Coding and programming lessons are provided by expert computing teachers from the City Learning Centre using programming tools on ipads and other hardware such as spheros and robot technology. Digital literacy and information technology skills are taught within the Learning Challenge Curriculum using ipads and laptops accessing Google Suite apps and additional education resources to develop IT skills in a cross curricular way. Progression is ensured through a carefully matched curriculum map. (see below)
Additional projects such as ‘safer internet day’ are organised regularly to further enhance effective communication using digital media. We also arrange technology workshops, i.e for transition years to motivate independent computational thinking and to equip children for the next stage in their education.
Impact
At St. Joseph’s, pupils develop their computing skills, and gain a good understanding of online safety issues and how to keep themselves safe online.
Through pupil voice, discussion and feedback, children talk enthusiastically about their computing lessons and speak about how they love learning on the computer.
Teachers plan a range of opportunities for pupils to use digital literacy and information technology, inside and outside school and equip pupils with the skills needed to use technology independently, for example accessing age-appropriate software and games in EYFS and using a range of computer software independently in KS1 and KS2.
Curriculum Overviews