Curriculum Intent:
When planning and teaching computing at Enfield Academy of New Waltham, we believe it is a subject that not only stands alone but is woven and should be included as an integral part of all learning. Computing, in general, is a significant part of everyone’s daily life and children should be at the forefront of new technology, with a thirst for learning about what is out there. Computing within Enfield school can therefore provide a wealth of learning opportunities and transferrable skills explicitly within the Computing lesson and across other curriculum subjects. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Pupils at Enfield are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate and able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology this is done at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in the digital world. 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.
Aims
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Curriculum Implementation:
In Key Stage 1 the children will understand how technology is all around them and is used everyday. They will learn to understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions. They will use a range of tools to support them with this (Apps, Beebots, Computers). They will be taught to create and debug simple programs and use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs. They will be shown how to use a range of technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content as well as recognise common uses of information technology beyond school. They will be taught to use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies. Each of these skills will be taught through exciting half termly units. We will begin to consider our digital wellbeing and be able to discuss openly with the children concerns, thoughts or questions they may have regarding using technology safely. At Enfield we will create an environment where the children can discuss openly concerns they have and provide them with vital skills they will need in the outside world. We strive to ensure that technology is at the forefront of our teaching. E-Safety will be at the forefront of our teaching and we will use our ‘digital champions’ to support pupils further.
In Key Stage 2 the children will design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. They will be provided with opportunity to design and make their own games for others to use. We will ensure the children have opportunity to display the work they have completed on a platform for others to view. They will use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs, use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and correct errors in algorithms and programs. Children will be taught to understand computer networks, including the internet, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration. They will use search technologies effectively, learn to appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content. Children will be taught to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals. They will use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact. In Key Stage 2 they will be given roles of responsibility (digital champions) that will ensure they take responsibility for their own learning. At Enfield we will create an environment where children can discuss concerns, worries and issues that have arisen when using technology. Children in Early Years provision will be exposed to the understanding of internet safety as they explore the world around them and how technology is an everyday part of their learning and understanding of the world.
National Curriculum Objectives
Early Years Foundation Stage
- Technology - children recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools. They select and use technology for particular purpose
Key stage 1
Pupils are taught to:
- understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- create and debug simple programs
- Use and understand the vocabulary for Computing through modelling.
- use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.
Key stage 2
Pupils are taught to:
- design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
- use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
- select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
- be confident with the language for Computing being used and implement it when explaining what they have achieved or produced.
use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
Curriculum Impact:
Children at Enfield Academy will be digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform as responsible global citizens. They will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to use technology effectively and safely, embedded with a moral purpose for the good of all, but understanding the risks of being online. Children will leave Enfield Academy confident to access and use technology for their further education and future workplaces.
Computing Curriculum
Computing Sequence of Knowledge