Curriculum Intent

Computing is an essential part of the Onslow Infant School curriculum. It extends and enhances learning in all subject areas and the ability to use technology in a safe and respectful manner is a skill for life. We aim to provide a relevant, challenging and enjoyable computing curriculum for all pupils in the school that meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and the National Curriculum.

Our computing curriculum enables all children to master the skills identified in our skills progression map. We encourage critical thinking, problem solving, imagination and creativity. This enables children to become confident and effective users of technology. We work alongside children and parents to encourage safe internet use beyond school and encourage children to talk about how they use technology at home. This information is used to inform our curriculum planning and provision is adapted to meet the current needs of our school community.

Curriculum Implementation

At the forefront of teaching computing in Onslow Infant School is Online Safety. Within class discussions, the children will carefully consider how to use the technological equipment safely following our school rules and what they should do if they come across something they don’t like. Half termly Online Safety topics are delivered in all classes and are planned to develop resilience. We want to teach children to manage risks safely when using technology and know who they can talk to if they are concerned or upset when using it.

Despite computing not being explicitly mentioned within the 2021 Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework, there are many opportunities for young children to use technology to solve problems and produce creative outcomes in their play. Our young digital citizens in EYFS, develop a greater understanding of technology by recognising a range of technology that is used in their homes and school. Through experimenting with a range of different equipment such as iPads, PCs, cameras, microphones and simple mechanical toys, the children will begin to speculate on why things happen or how things work and interact with age appropriate computer software including 2simple software and age appropriate interactive games on the class screen. They will listen to stories on CD players and learn to type their name on a keyboard.

Throughout Key Stage 1, the children’s use of digital technologies continues through the use of iPads and simple floor robots as well as the classroom PC and interactive boards. In Year 1, the children have their own Purple Mash login and begin to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content within this platform. Moving on from this, the children will become treasure hunters and use programmable Bee Bot toys and coding apps to begin to understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions.

Using the iPad, the children will explore how they can use technology beyond school to record and present their own weather forecast.

In Year 2, the children’s iPad skills are built upon. They will begin by becoming photographers and enhancing their ability to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content by creating a video presentation or Book Creator on an artist. Using the Purple Mash platform, pupils are given the opportunity to compose, save and present a digital music composition for peer review. Through the use of simple on-screen programming software and simple floor robots, the children will become computer programmers, implementing algorithms, learning to create and debug simple programs and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. Digital microscopes and thermometers may be used in Year 2 to enhance science technology, to record weather data and weights and measures links to maths and science curriculum.

We want to prepare our children for the future and have planned for children’s basic laptop skills to be developed and built upon across the Key Stage. This ranges from basic typing and mousepad skills in Year 1 through to creating and presenting Presentations in Year 2.

Our Computing curriculum map has been developed to ensure coverage and progression across the key stages based on the content outlined in the National Curriculum. Foundation subjects are taught as a whole class input with skills developed within continuous provision. In this way, the children can engage fully and become immersed in the topic, making it easier to remember what is being taught and thus embed key learning, knowledge and skills.

Our medium terms plans have been carefully brought together from the Rising Stars Switched on Computing and Hamilton e-safety mini topics. Each computing lesson will begin by revisiting the class “Online Safety Rules”. Through the use of careful modelling, skilful guidance, clear expectations and scaffolding of learning, the children will become successful, competent digital citizens working together in groups to create digital content and use technological equipment safely.

Curriculum Impact

A variety of methods are used to find out what the children know and understand. Activities are differentiated by the level of support and outcomes, to suit the different abilities and learning styles. Computing lessons allow for collaborative learning and thus encourage children to talk in pairs, small groups or through class discussion, to share learning. Evidence of the children’s learning journey through each computing topic may be saved on their Purple Mash account or printed out into their Proud Book. Skills are revisited each year to assess if the children have remembered learning some time later.

As each unit of work is covered, we consider the related intended learning, recognise children who are working below, at satisfactory standard, at good standard, or beyond, the expected level for that objective. Formative assessments are recorded on Tapestry.

Computing monitoring includes, learning walks, pupil voice interviews/questionnaires, planning reviews in order to ascertain correct curriculum coverage. This information is then used to inform further curriculum developments and provision is adapted accordingly following feedback.

Supporting families with Computing

Our topic overviews in within the Class Pages will outline the computing activities your child has been participating in. We encourage you to talk to your child about the learning and support them in ensuring they are using technology at home safely.

You can find useful websites and articles to support your child using technology at home safely by following the link below.

Information, Advice and Support to Keep Children Safe Online (internetmatters.org)