Computing

Intent

If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.

- John Dewy

At Eaton Valley Primary School, we have a clear and simple intention: the children should be online-safe, online-inspired and online-confident. 

Computing is an integral part of our everyday life and will play an immeasurable part in our children’s futures. We will provide all of our children with the skills, creativity and enthusiasm to live and thrive in a world increasingly dependent on computing. As computing technology underpins today’s modern lifestyle, it is essential that all pupils gain the confidence and ability that they need in this subject to prepare them for the challenge of a rapidly developing and changing technological world.

Implementation

Computing is led and overseen by the Computing lead, who regularly monitors, evaluates, reviews and celebrates good practice to contribute to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve the subject further.

Computing is taught in progressive units across the school. It is informed and aligned by the National Curriculum. There is a long-term plan which has been carefully designed to allow the children to revisit and build upon the skills taught previously. Each unit has an in-depth knowledge organiser, which conveys key information: the children’s prior learning; key knowledge and skills that will be covered; key vocabulary; and useful website and app links. In addition to this, each unit also has a medium-term plan, which is composed attentively by the class teacher and is revised annually, to ensure we provide our children with a rich, engaging curriculum.

These lessons are progressive and skill based, ensuring differentiation to provide inclusion and challenge for all learners. Many of the skills learnt in Computing are interlinked and feed into the wider curriculum. The Computing curriculum also allows children to work collaboratively and independently, providing them with the opportunity to evaluate their own work and that of other pupils. Assessment for learning, based on observations, key questioning and discussion, is used to inform future lesson planning and to evaluate the attainment of all pupils, at the end of each unit of work.All pupils carry out a Pre-assessment Quiz at the beginning of each topic and revisit this at the end of their learning journey. This helps to demonstrate their progress of key knowledge. Attainment is updated and monitored termly through the use of Target Tracker.

By the end of Year 6, children will be confident online and will know how to keep themselves safe in the technological world. In addition to this, they will have a secure understanding of many software programs involving word processing, coding and data handling. This will provide them will the digital tools needed throughout later life.

Impact