Computing
Queens’ Federation: Computing Subject Statement
Intent
At the Queens’ Federation we aim to foster ‘Learning for Life.’
We will provide a rich, relevant and inspirational curriculum that promotes a lifelong love of learning and equips our pupils with the key knowledge and understanding, skills and personal qualities that they will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our curriculum is designed to be relevant to our children and is linked to the context of our school and the local community.
At the Queens’ Federation, we recognise that technology is an integral part of everyday life. We aim to prepare our pupils for a future in an environment that is shaped by technology and for them to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that they will need to thrive in the digital world of today and in the future. We aim to develop confident, independent learners who are able to plan, design, create, program and evaluate information through the use of ICT.
Online safety is an integral part of both our Computing and PSHCE curriculum. Whilst ensuring pupils understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want our pupils to become respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online.
Implementation
At the Queens’ Federation, computing is taught through the use of the online computing program, Purple Mash. This program ensures that pupils are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each computing topics. The Purple Mash scheme of work ensures a balanced coverage of the three strands of the computing curriculum – Computer Science (programming and understanding how digital systems work), Information Technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information) and Digital Literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully).
Each school within the Federation has a computing suite and sets of class IPads, ensuring that pupils use computers for a range of purposes across the wider curriculum, as well as in discrete lessons. Visualisers and interactive whiteboards are available in each classroom.
Alongside the development of basic computing skills, we ensure that teaching is enhanced by the use of technology in all aspects of the curriculum, enabling pupils to see the benefits of becoming computer literate for the future. Our curriculum is further enriched by visiting experts and through the use of additional curriculum days such as Online Safety Day.
We view assessment as a holistic process, which takes place in every lesson through observation of, in questioning and in conversation with pupils and in the production of written outcomes. Computing assessment criteria set out the key knowledge and skills that a pupil should achieve at the end of each unit of work.
Impact
Our Computing curriculum ensures that pupils become digitally literate; they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and communication technology as active participants in a digital world. Pupil outcomes evidence a broad and balanced computing curriculum and at the end of each year, pupils achieve age related expectations and retain the knowledge and skills learnt from each unit of work.
Yearly Overview
By the end of the Foundation Stage, the curriculum states children should ‘recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools, and select and use technology for particular purposes’. We give children opportunities to explore a range of technology in fun and purposeful ways.
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Online Safety. Pictograms. Grouping and Sorting | Interactive Games. Animated Stories. Technology Outside School | Coding. Spreadsheets |
| Year 2 | Coding. Online Safety | Databases. Using Green Screen | Searching within a browser. Presenting ideas with PowerPoint |
| Year 3 | Email and Communication. Online Safety | Coding. Spreadsheets | Databases. Simulations |
| Year 4 | Online Safety. Blogging. Spreadsheets | Coding. Animation and Storyboards | Searching with a browser. Presenting ideas |
| Year 5 | Game Creator. Coding | Online Safety. Concept Maps | Databases. Spreadsheets |
| Year 6 | Blogging. Creating an interactive travel guide with iMovie | Coding | Online Safety. Networks and the Internet |
Information for Parents
Online safety is taken very seriously by all staff and children at Queen Edith. Please see our Online Safety Policy on our Policies page.
On Tuesday 8th February, we joined schools and youth organisations across the UK in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2022. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to promote the safe and responsible use of technology, which calls on young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers and more, to join together in helping to create a better internet.
Using the internet safely and positively is a key message that we promote in school, and celebrating Safer Internet Day was a great opportunity for us to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year. Some of the activities we participated in on the day included:
· Joining an assembly where we thought about how to show respect in a gaming environment.
· Participating in quizzes about online safety on Purple Mash.
· Exploring the ingredients for a kinder internet spell.
· Using 2Connect on Purple Mash to record ideas about what respectful relationships online should be.
Below are a range of useful resources for parents and carers to use when keeping children safe online:
NSPCC A Parents’ Guide to being Share Aware. Helping you to keep your child safe online.
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/advice-and-info/share-aware.pdf
Switched on Families Run by Virgin Media, this website is full of useful advice and tools to help give parents clear advice on getting the best out of the internet for their children.
http://keepup.virginmedia.com/switchedonfamilies
Childnet
Whether you’re puzzled by parental controls or would like to know more about gaming, this website can help.
http://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Staying Safe Online
Information on what you can do to stay safe online during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-staying-safe-online
Reviews and information about games, apps, TV shows and websiteswww.commonsense.org
Examples Of Learning
Year 1
Year 1 have enjoyed using Maze Explorers on 2Go. They have learnt how to use the direction keys to move forwards, backwards, left and right, as well as how to move their character back to the starting point.
Year 2
Making Pictograms on Purple Mash – Summer 2022
Year 2 have enjoyed learning how to use 2Count on Purple Mash to make their own pictograms. We now know how to insert pictures, add/delete cells and record data.
Year 2 loved combining Computing with Music by using 2Sequence on Purple Mash. This tool allows the children to drag and drop sounds into a grid to build up a piece of music.
Year 6
Year 6 enjoyed using 2Code on Purple Mash to design and make a complex program. Children are learning how to debug when things are not running as expected.