Computing
Intent
At Maidwell Primary School we aim to instil a sense of enjoyment around using technology and to develop our children's appreciation of its capabilities and the opportunities technology offers to create, manage, organise and collaborate.
Tinkering with software and programs forms a part of our ethos for computing as we want to develop our children's confidence when encountering new technology which is a vital skill in the ever evolving and changing landscape of technology. Through our curriculum we intend for children not only to be digitally competent and have a range of transferable skills at a suitable level for the future workplace but also to be responsible online citizens.
Our curriculum aligns with the aims outlined in the National curriculum and also satisfies the objectives of the DfE's Education for a Connected World framework - helping to equip children for life in the digital world including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, copyright issues, being discerning consumers of online information and healthy use of technology.
Implementation
We achieve our intent through the use of a scheme and materials from Kapow and Natterhub.
The Kapow scheme of work is designed with three strands which run throughout:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Digital Literacy
The Natterhub platform allows us to deliver scenario based and engaging lessons to teach online safety.
The Kapow scheme of work ensures we deliver a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This range means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles.
Strong subject knowledge is essential for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective and robust computing curriculum. Each of the Kapow units include teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD.
Impact
The impact of our use of both Kapow and Natterhub is monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson can be assessed through quizzes, knowledge catchers, polls and teacher assessment.
We believe children will leave us with a range of skills from our Computing curriculum:
- Be critical thinkers and be able to understand how to make informed, safe and appropriate digital choices in the future.
- Understand the importance that computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.
- Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.
- Understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity - they will know that different types of software and hardware can help achieve a broad variety of artistic and practical aims.
- Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National curriculum - Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.
- Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
- Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems in a responsible and appropriate manner.
- Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.
- Meet the end of Key Stage expectations as outlined in the National Curriculum.