At Horton St Michael’s, we believe that every child deserves access to quality computing lessons that will prepare them for an ever-changing society, where it is crucial that they understand how to use technology accurately and safely. Computing is an integral part of the National Curriculum and a key skill for everyday life.

Our aim through the computing curriculum is to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way.

We want our pupils to be able to operate in the 21st century workplace and be aware of the career opportunities that will be open to them if they study computing.  We aim for children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities.

We use technology to support learning across the entire curriculum and to ensure that our curriculum is accessible to every child. Not only do we want them to be digitally literate and competent users of technology, but through our computer lessons we want them to develop creativity, resilience and problem-solving skills by learning how to be ‘computational thinkers’. 

We want our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as responsible digital citizens within their community but also as members of a local, national and wider global community.  

At Horton, we believe that safety on the internet is paramount and during your child’s time at school we actively monitor and filter internet access but it is not always easy for parents to do so in the same way. Click on the link below to view our E Safety page:

https://www.hortonstmichaels.co.uk/e-safety/

Intent

All pupils at Horton St Michael’s have the right to rich, deep learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology.  At Horton St Michael’s, pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including laptops, iPads, Bee-Bots and interactive whiteboards etc; allowing them to continually practise and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they can express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology; at a level suitable for them and as active participants in a digital world.

We teach a curriculum that enables children to become effective users of technology who can:

• Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including logic, algorithms and data representation.
• Analyse problems in computational term and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems.
• Communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout all areas of the curriculum.

Implementation 

At Horton St Michael’s, we want the children to grow in confidence and continue to build on previously learnt skills as they progress through each year group.  Teachers plan a sequence of structured lessons using the resources from the National Centre for Computing Education.

In the Early Years, children are regularly exposed to technology, often through play and continuous provision. The children have regular access a touch screen learning whiteboard to support numeracy and phonics. Ipads are used as and when appropriate for individuals or groups.  They also have access to resources such as Bee-Bots to learn the early fundamentals of coding.

In Key Stage 1, the children will begin to understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs and that programs execute by following instructions. 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. The children will begin to be exposed to word processors and apps to create digital art. 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.

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 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.  There are many opportunities for these skills to be taught through exciting units from our National Centre for Computing Education scheme of work. Additional opportunities such as assemblies and themed days allow for wider discussions on aspects such as online safety.

Impact

Through implementing this creative, engaging and sequenced curriculum, the children at Horton St Michael’s will be digitally literate and able to join the rest of the world on its digital platform. Children will have the skills to use technology effectively in everyday life, but most importantly; they will know how to use it safely. As educators teaching computing, one of our main priorities is ensuring that our children understand how to remain safe online and understanding situations and activities that may not be safe for them.  Computing has rapidly become a fundamental life skill to have and at Horton St Michael’s, we are passionate in ensuring that our children become confident in their abilities to aid them later in life.