Computing Curriculum

INTENT

The intent of the Computing curriculum is that children are taught to become safe, competent and independent users of various technologies, internet services and programming. Our curriculum is tailored for the needs of all our children and community whilst upholding high standards for progression and achievement. Our curriculum principles of LEAP are interwoven into the computing curriculum as outlined below as they were designed to address the barriers that our children come to our school with.

Language Rich

Key vocabulary is explicitly explained using visual cues, rehearsed together as a class, and displayed at all times on working walls when relevant.
Whole-class oral rehearsal supports precise subject specific language and deepens conceptual understanding.
Pupils are encouraged to feedback using subject specific vocabulary and during projects that they under take.
Talk Tasks are modelled by the teacher and rehearsed in mixed ability groups, providing further scaffold for children’s language development

Experiential

Technology is shown to be all around us and pupils are encouraged to make these real-world connections in every unit.
Linked to Conceptual Understanding: pupils explore technological ideas through concrete manipulatives and pictorial models before moving to abstract representations.
Pupils are encouraged to discuss their own prior experiences of ICT and links to other subjects such as DT and history are made.
Pupils utilize real life resources such as Bee bots, computers, cameras etc. as well as online software for hands on experiences.

Formative assessment is used by the class teacher and teaching assistant during whole class or group teaching. Children’s achievement and level of confidence is taken into consideration to inform future planning.

Ambitious

All pupils are expected to access a computing curriculum whilst at The Stonebridge School.
Lessons are designed with depth, not speed, ensuring all children master core concepts before moving on.
Enrichment and challenge are embedded so that pupils develop resilience, independence, and a belief in their own ability to achieve knowing that the future of technology will rely on them.
The curriculum meets the NC curriculum and the EAD strands of the EYFS curriculum.

Purposeful

We design learning that builds on what children already know, carefully addressing gaps to ensure meaningful and connected progress.
EAL and SEND learners will are still learning foundations will be exposed to a curriculum that meets their needs and challenges them.

IMPLEMENTATION

At the Stonebridge School, we teach an inclusive and ambitious curriculum that covers the knowledge and skills outlined in the National Curriculum while focusing on its three aspects:

Computer Science: this is the core of the Computing curriculum and covers principles like algorithms, programming (e.g. BeeBots/MBots and Scratch) and data representation, as well as understanding how computer systems and networks function.

Information Technology: the effective use of computing technology for functional purposes e.g. creating music, videos and animations, saving, organising and retrieving work, blogging, manipulating data.

Digital Literacy: the safe and responsible use of technology, including Online Safety, online identity, understanding digital footprint and online risks relating to Content, Contact, Conduct and Commerce.

Computing is taught as a discreet subject for up to 1 hour a week in either our well-resourced Computing Suite or through a range of other resources or as unplugged lessons without using a hands-on digital device. Children have access to iPads, computers to compliment and enhance computing across the curriculum. These are used for research and to complete online quizzes. As a school, we also subscribe to the London Grid for Learning [LGfL] which provides the children with access to high-quality, cross-curricular learning resources that allow our pupils to consolidate and extend their learning in school and at home.In the Early Years, the children’s learning of Computing is centred on play-based, unplugged activities that focus on developing their speaking and listening, curiosity, problem-solving and creativity.

We primarily use the National Centre for Computing Education’s [NCCE] Teach Computing curriculum to deliver our Computing lessons. It is a spiral curriculum, which means that children revisit the same concepts at least once each academic year to ensure that these are well-embedded and that the learners acquire knowledge that builds on previous knowledge.

Teachers assess learners in each lesson and plan opportunities for them to remember more through regular retrieval practice at the start and during each lesson. Online safety is a key part of the curriculum and is a continued focus throughout the year.

IMPACT

Learning in Computing will be enjoyed across the school. Teachers will be able to show evidence of children’s learning in the subject. Our children will be confident users of a range of digital devices and technologies both software and hardware to produce digital outcomes. Our pre-secondary pupils will leave Stonebridge as knowledgeable, responsible and confident users of technology.