Meet the Leader

"Alan Turing gave us a mathematical model of digital computing that has completely withstood the test of time. He gave us a very, very clear description that was truly prophetic."

 George Dyson

The value of Computing within our Curriculum

Prestolee believes that developing a love for learning in Computing is crucial and we do this, by inspiring curiosity and providing children with the essential skills and knowledge to build upon and prepare them for the next stage, this in turn:

• Supports the learner’s understanding of the ever-increasing use of technology, preparing them for a future of possibilities.
• Provides them with the skills to think critically, justify and reason their own judgements using logical rational and evidence, allowing them to question, debate and discuss information, not just accept what they are told.
• Develops the understanding that technology is constantly evolving and preparing them with the skills of how to cope with situations online that they may not have been faced with before.
• Allow learners to understand the diversity of the world and the people in it, thus allowing them to understand more about their own online identity.
• Prepares children to be lifelong learners, who are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of technology.
• Develops the skills and attitudes required to allow children to fully participate in and contribute to life in modern Britain.

Intent

Through the design of our curriculum, all our pupils should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly and to engage with the ever changing world as responsible digital citizens now and in the future, including distinguishing between right and wrong when using technology. Furthermore, we aim to expose our pupils to quality literature in the Computing curriculum, based on key elements of digital citizenship, valuing the importance of reading being the foundation stone of knowledge. Parents and children will be given any information necessary to keep them safe online both inside and outside of school. We will endeavour to keep pace with educational developments in computing and have a commitment to teachers having the necessary tools to do their jobs effectively and will continue to ensure we have access to the most effective and emerging technologies in order to fully engage with the curriculum

Implementation

In Computing, we follow the Bolton Schools ICT scheme of work, which has been developed using a range of resources. Learning in Computing is facilitated through the teaching of four key themes: Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology. These four themes run throughout the year groups in school, showing a clear progression of skills and knowledge. They are all taught at the same time across the school to ensure consistency. The themes are each presented as a series of iCan statements, which have been developed using resources from the National Curriculum, Education for a Connected World, NAACE and CAS.

We use a range of software to support teaching and learning in Computing including, Purple Mash, Scratch, BBC Bitesize and TTS Software for Beebots and Inobots, Spheros. Computing is not just taught in stand-alone weekly Computing lessons but also integrated into other areas of the curriculum, including PSHE, English, History, Geography and Art and Design.

The four key themes are outlined as follows:

Digital Citizenship

Children need to examine the consequences of their online activity–both good and bad. When teaching Digital Citizenship it is vital that we thoroughly embed the principles of staying safe online and then move onto web content and how they interact with it. It is important to use real world examples with our children to ensure that their learning is relevant to their life experiences. We have adopted and incorporated the Project Evolve (Education For A Connected World) framework into the teaching of Digital Citizenship, showing clear progression and learning objectives across all the primary Key Stages. It focuses specifically on eight different aspects of online education: Self-image and Identity Online relationships Online reputation Online bullying Health, wellbeing and lifestyle These are covered under the Information Technology section: Managing online information Privacy and security Copyright and ownership As part of our Digital Citizenship topic, we also use a range of stories based on moral dilemmas, which have been carefully picked to bring up sensitive issues, suitable for different key stages.

Digital Literacy

This unit teaches pupils how to be digitally literate when it comes to using a range of software (including the Internet). It encourages pupils to combine the six core skills listed below to accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.

Collaboration - The ability to work collaboratively with others, with strong interpersonal and team-related skills. Creativity - Being able to weigh up opportunities in an entrepreneurial manner and ask the right questions to generate new ideas.

Critical thinking - Being able to evaluate information and arguments, identify patterns and connections, and construct meaningful knowledge and apply it in the real world.

Citizenship - The ability to consider issues and solve complex problems based on a deep understanding of diverse values and a worldview.

Character - Traits such as grit, tenacity, perseverance, and resilience; alongside a desire to make learning an integral part of living.

Communication - Being able to communicate effectively through a variety of methods and tools to a range of different audiences.

Computer Science

Computer science teaches students design, logical reasoning, problem solving and resilience - all valuable well beyond the computer science classroom. The ability to create and adapt new technologies distinguishes computer science from digital literacy; which focuses more on using existing technologies (e.g. word processing and spread sheets). We regularly use STEM loan boxes from Bolton Schools ICT to deliver Computer Science lessons to create programs using the most up to date forms of technology.

Information Technology

This is how we interface with technology using existing hardware. We need to teach children how to navigate around a variety of devices, type, save work, find and move files. We also provide children with an understanding of the Internet and the web, how to use search engines, understand networks and generally be efficient and independent users of a range of technologies.

EYFS

Within the EYFS, Computing is integral to the Early Learning Goal of Understanding the World where pupils are encouraged and supported to “recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools” and “select and use technology for particular purposes”. Our curriculum begins focusing on the key theme of Digital Citizenship, in which our youngest children are encourage to say how they are feeling when using technology and link this to real life and emotions. They also consider the emotions of others and describe ways in which people can be unkind online. Children are also taught to identify rules both in and beyond the home when using technology and how we can use the internet to communicate with people we know. Furthermore, children have the opportunity to engage in discussion through the reading and sharing of books which present moral dilemmas in the context of a child friendly story.

Our EYFS children are given many hands on opportunities to develop their use of technology including the setting of Purple Mash tasks to support other areas of the curriculum, introduction of Beebots and giving instructions in the simplest form of an algorithm, developing directional language and the use of remote control toys.

KS1

Computing is taught on a weekly basis in KS1. Within KS1, we ensure that our expectations enable all pupils to establish and begin to develop the key skills, knowledge and principles of using technology. The content is grouped under the four key themes as mentioned before. Building upon the outcomes achieved by the end of the EYFS, children in KS1 further develop their understanding of how to use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identifying where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies. They develop their skills across a range of software, using simple keyboard shortcuts, basic use of Microsoft Word and how to organise, store and manipulate digital content. Once again, a range of books and stories are used to start conversation around sensitive issues that arise when using technology. In Computer Science, Year 1 focus solely on algorithms, firstly completing unplugged activities before progressing onto using the Beebots as their understanding increases. Year 2 progress further, developing their knowledge of algorithms but progressing further onto events and programs in Computer Science. Privacy online is discussed, starting with basic usernames and passwords and their use. In Information Technology the focus is on effective searching on the Internet, including navigating simple webpages and using key words in search engines.

KS2

Computing is taught on a weekly basis in KS2. During their time in KS2, children build upon their computing experience from KS1. Children will develop further as respectful digital citizens and will learn about social networking sites, online gaming and different types of attention through debates and key questions. The children will be exposed to a variety of strands such as self-image and Identity, online relationships, online reputation, cyber bullying and its effects and the impact of technology on health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Once again, age appropriate books are used to support the teaching of Digital Citizenship, presenting children with a range of moral dilemmas. Pupils will be taught to use a range of software to accomplish given goals, such as spreadsheets, databases, moviemaker and garage band. In Computer Science, skills are progressive from Year 3 to Year 6 focusing on one element in each year group; Year 3 – Sequence, Year 4 – Repeats/Loops, Year 5 – Selection/Conditionals and Year 6 – Variables.

Impact

At Prestolee, we strive to deliver an outstanding Computing offer in an ever changing technological world; we aim for all pupils to develop as computer literate individuals who are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. We also appreciate the importance of the Cultural history behind Computing and the evolution of technology; ensuring that within every year group children are taught of a breadth of detail about historical figures, given the opportunity to research and create projects to document their findings. Furthermore, we recognise and plan for what becoming better at Computing entails – progression - and consequently challenging and supporting our pupils to work in a more rigorous manner as they progress through the school. To enable this to happen we have established an outcomes driven curriculum which recognises the crucial importance of identifying not just what we want our pupils to know and do in Computing but also the intellectual outcomes we intend them to achieve through their learning. Our children are confident and able to talk about what they have learnt in Computing using subject specific vocabulary and are able to recall their learning over time, progressively adding to their skill set when using computers and technology. 

As pupils progress as computer literate digital citizens we aim for the following outcomes:

• Demonstrating the skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute to life in modern Britain.

• Pupils will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly and to engage with the ever changing world as responsible digital citizens now and in the future, including distinguishing between right and wrong when using technology.

• Children will appreciate quality literature in the Computing curriculum, based on key elements of digital citizenship, valuing the importance of reading being the foundation stone of knowledge.

Through the extent that our curriculum offers, our children become passionate users of technology, who are inspired by their topics, are curious to find out more about the online world and have a love of Computing and a desire that will motivate them to develop their knowledge for the rest of their lives.