Wilberfoss C of E Primary SchoolComputing
Computing at Wilberfoss - The Big Picture!
At Wilberfoss all children should grow up aware of how to keep themselves safe and respectful to others online. They should be taught skills which will enable them to express themselves and adapt ideas creatively.
This will allow them to confidently solve problems in computer programming and in other curricular areas. The skills they learn will be relevant in their everyday lives, helping them to keep pace with new technologies that will equip them with the skills needed for their future.
Intent
The teachers at Wilberfoss understand the immense value technology plays in supporting the Computing and whole school curriculum, day-to-day life of our school and also the increasing role it plays in our pupils’ lives as they grow older. We believe that technology can help grow good people and build understanding of diversity as well as keeping children safe online and building understanding and respect for others.
Computing is embedded in curriculum. Whilst there is no Early Learning Goal for technology, within our EYFS curriculum computing is still planned for. Coding is sequenced through Y1-6 using Espresso Coding units to allow maximum support for staff with varying levels of confidence. This provides a programme of increasing complexity and challenge in engaging tasks for all children. Creativity, improvisation and innovation should be encouraged to allow children to broaden their experiences of coding and promote their problem solving skills. Other computing is tied into the overall curriculum plan and should support learning in other subject areas for example internet research tied to topic work on Arctic animals and videos produced and edited for news reports about Skara Brae.
Our aim is that all children should grow up aware of how to keep themselves safe and respectful to others online. They should be taught skills which will enable them to express themselves and adapt ideas creatively. This will allow them to confidently solve problems in computer programming and in other curricular areas. The skills they learn will be relevant in their everyday lives, helping them to keep pace with new technologies that will equip them with the skills needed for their future.
Implementation
Computing at Wilberfoss is taught in a number of ways.
In the Early Years the approach is through cross-curricular learning with an emphasis on hands-on experiences such as scanning QR codes to retrieve information, using AR to inspire stories. and finding out about places using Google Earth. ESafety is taught through the Smartie the Penguin story. These activities are recorded on Tapestry using the flag ‘technology’.
From Year 1 upwards, coding is taught through a progressive series of units provided by Espresso Coding. Children are encouraged to explore and coding and to try to create and explain different effects using the tools that they have learned about so far. Other aspects of computing refer back to prior “sticky” knowledge and the purpose for learning is linked to real life examples. Children are able to use technology imaginatively and creatively whilst also becoming efficient learners and critical thinkers. Cross-curricular teaching helps enthuse and equip children with the capability to use technology throughout their lives. We believe that this transference of skills can aid in teaching pupils the strategies and knowledge necessary to enable them to reap the benefits of the online world, whilst being able to minimise risk to themselves or others.
Impact
Progress is monitored through the use of Whole Class Feedback sheets to provide timely feedback and interventions from session to session. Examples of work at the expected standard is to be kept in evidence folders on the shared drive and can additionally be recorded through photographic evidence on the school’s Twitter account. At the end of each Espresso coding session, children should save their example of free coding in their account folders which can be accessed by staff.
Curriculum Progression Map for Computing
What does Computing look like at Wilberfoss?