Computing

At Upton St James (USJ), we are committed to ensuring our children leave us with a clear and thorough knowledge of computing. High-quality computing education equips children with a deep understanding of how to use technology and prepare them for a digital world. As their knowledge increases, so will their understanding of the integral nature of computing within our computing age. This will help children by ‘rising to our best’.

At the core of our computing curriculum is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. We aim to ensure that pupils become digitally literate – able to safely use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

In the EYFS, the children have opportunities to develop their computing knowledge through their continuous provision, computing lessons and PSHE lessons, where ‘staying safe online’ is explicitly taught. The children are also exposed to lessons from the Barefoot Computing scheme for EYFS, that help support the foundations in the Computing curriculum.

From Year 1 upwards, computing lessons are taught weekly using the ‘Teach Computing’ scheme and converted into enquiry questions as per our curriculum map. The comprehensive scheme of work demonstrates clear progression from Year 1 – Year 6 through the ‘Big ideas’ of ‘computational thinking’, ‘creative media’, data logging’ and ‘programming’. Online safety is also explicitly taught during PSHE/Computing lessons within every year group using Project Evolve and during Internet Safety week every February. Children will support each other by giving ideas and advice on how to stay safe online ('Love your neighbour as yourself' (Mark 12 v30-31).

Within each unit there is key know, grow and show vocabulary that the children will learn and are expected to use in context. The vocabulary is crucial in children being able to understand how to use technology safety and correctly.

Children in Reception are assessed using the key concepts from the Bearfoot computing scheme. In Year 1 – Year 3, children are formally assessed using the key objectives taken from the Teach computing scheme at the end of each year. Children in year 4 upwards are formally assessed at the end of each unit using a class rubric or summative quiz taken from the Teach Computing scheme.

Assessment for learning underpins teaching and learning in Computing. Children will be given opportunities to reflect on what they already know and understand and which elements of Computing they are going to develop next.