Intent
At Heaton Park Primary School we want pupils to become masters of technology. Technology is everywhere and will play a pivotal part in students’ lives. Therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely.
We want our pupils to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology (especially social media) to model positive use.
As a school we recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education. Building our knowledge in this subject will allow pupils to effectively demonstrate their learning through creative use of technology. We recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils.
Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists. We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible.
We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.
Implementation
To ensure consistency and progression for children teaching for Key Stage 1 and 2 is implemented with support from the National Centre for Computing Education (government funded initiative).
For Early Years, computing is not a statutory curriculum area but children are still exposed to the use of technology and included in the whole school online safety planning.
We have created a comprehensive progression document for staff to follow to best embed and cover every element of the computing curriculum. The knowledge/skills statements build year on year to deepen and challenge our learners.
Information Technology |
Computer Science |
Digital Literacy |
| Word processing/typing | Computational thinking | Self-Image and Identity |
| Data Handling | Programming | Online Relationships |
| Presentations, Web design | Computer Networks | Online Reputation |
| Animation | Online Bullying | |
| Video Creation | Managing Online Information | |
| Photography and digital art | Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle | |
| Augmented reality and virtual reality | Privacy and Security | |
| Sound | Copyright and Ownership |
Computing at Heaton Park includes
- Explicit online safety lessons
- Understanding a digital footprint
- Understanding of how to keep everyone safe online
- Continued monitoring of e-safety issues
- Open discussions with children about the internet (including social media)
- Access to iPads and laptops
- Understanding on how to use search technologies effectively
- The ability to explain how search engines work and how results are selected and ranked
- To know how to describe how some online information can be opinion and can offer examples
- To know how to create videos using a range of media – green screen, animations, film and image
- To know how to publish my documents online regularly and discuss the audience and purpose of my content
- Access to coding websites such as scratch
- Downloading images from safe websites such as Pixabay
Curriculum:
Impact
At Heaton Park we encourage our children to enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We will constantly ask the children to explain the why behind their learning and not just the how.
We want learners to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being. Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style. We feel the way we implement computing helps children realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on in their next stage of education and beyond. We encourage regular discussions between staff and pupils to best embed and understand this. The way pupils showcase, share, celebrate and publish their work will best show the impact of our curriculum.
We also look for evidence through reviewing pupil’s knowledge and skills digitally through tools like Seesaw and observing learning regularly. Progress of our computing curriculum is demonstrated through outcomes and the record of coverage in the process of achieving these outcomes.
Top Tips for Parents and Families
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/
