Rationale:
Our Computing curriculum encompasses all aspects that are integral to becoming computer literate. It incorporates carefully selected knowledge and skills which is brought to life in a meaningful and exciting way for pupils. From our Early Years and beyond, pupils learn about computer science, digital literacy and information technology. Our curriculum is constantly evolving as a result of worldwide developments, taking into account new and emerging technologies and the contribution it has to accomplish specific objectives or goals.
Cross-curricular links are a valuable and creative way to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, as well as stimulating curiosity. Our computing curriculum holds strong links with English, Maths, Art and Design, and PHSE.
Units such as online safety are not just taught discretely in computing lessons but are also thread through the school in other aspects – such as online safety assemblies and workshops with external visitors.
We consider links to real-life experiences to be valuable to learning and so are found throughout our computing curriculum. This is particularly prevalent in Key Stage 2, where children’s understanding of spreadsheets aids them in budgeting and organising fundraisers and school events.
Knowledge organisers are shared with pupils and children are supported to learn the key knowledge within them; this helps to develop pupils’ schema, transferring knowledge from their short-term to long-term memory. Schema is developed due to the knowledge in the knowledge organisers building on prior learning from previous topics, but also previous year groups.
Other strategies to help pupils learn the curriculum include retrieval practice and deliberate practice. Vocabulary is taught explicitly so that pupils have a greater grasp of technical and subject specific vocabulary and they can relay this throughout a unit of work.
Some aspects within a unit of work are covered in every year group, providing pupils with opportunities of deliberate practice so that core learning, knowledge and vocabulary is regularly consolidated; for example coding – which is taught in every year group from Year 1 to Year 6- pupils have a more comprehensive understanding of how to code and create algorithm to achieve a specific outcome.
The safer use of technology is threaded within all units of work. Our second unit of work introduces pupils to more age-specific content to support them with staying safe when using technology, identifying potential risks and dangers, recognising their digital footprint, what would be acceptable or unacceptable use of technology and how to report content or contact which they have received.
The computing curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced, knowledge is carefully planned and regularly reviewed and developed. Where appropriate, units end with a finished product which allows the children to showcase the content and procedural knowledge they have learnt. An example of this can be seen in Year 5, where the children are taught aspects of game design throughout the unit and subsequently are asked to independently design a 3D game.
Assessment opportunities are carefully planned so that they are purposeful, support learning and inform us as to whether our curriculum and or the delivery of it is effective.
Computing High Level Plan
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
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| Reception | Do you want to be friends? Why do leaves go crispy? | What’s that sound? Are carrots orange? | Can I switch it on? Why do zebras have stripes? |
| Year 1 | 1.1 – Online Safety and Exploring Purple Mash Content: Avatars Saving files Themes: Saving and retrieving files Sharing files Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 1.4 – Lego Builders Content: Instructions Recipes Themes: Following algorithms Debugging Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Followed algorithms | 1.7 Coding Content: Code and coding blocks Scripts Commands Themes: Designing backgrounds and characters for a game Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Designed aspects of a game |
| 1.2 – Grouping and Sorting Content: Criteria Hovering a mouse Themes: Grouping objects and images Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 1.5 – Maze Explorers Content: Clicking on directions Instructions Themes: Moving images in different directions Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Designing a route for an image | 1.8 Spreadsheets Content: Calculations Clipart Cell Themes: Algorithms Formula Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Information added to a spreadsheet |
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| 1.3 - Pictograms Content: Images Data Themes: Creating pictograms Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Pictogram | 1.6 – Animated Story Books Content: E-books Images and sounds Themes: Animation Copying and pasting text Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Individual e-books. | 1.9 Technology Outside School Content: Technology Themes: Types of technology in school Types of technology at home Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment |
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| Year 2 | 2.1- Coding Content: Instructions Bugs Objects Themes: Algorithm Debugging Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Debugged program | 2.4 - Questioning Content: Avatars can represent answers Databases Themes: Creating pictograms Binary trees Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Binary trees | 2.7 – Making Music Content: Digital sounds Themes: Altering digital sounds Uploading sounds Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Digitally altered sounds |
| 2.2 – Online Safety Content: Digital footprint Sharing Themes: Email safety Sharing files Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 2.5 – Effective Searching Content: Features of a search engine Keywords Themes: Search engines Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 2.8 – Presenting Ideas Content: Facts Correct answers Themes: Quizzes Concept maps Powerpoint Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Powerpoint presentation |
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| 2.3 - Spreadsheets Content: Data Cells Formulae Themes: Tables Block graphs Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Table and block graph | 2.6 – Creating Pictures Content: Impressionism Templates Repeating patterns Themes: Creating images in the style of an artist Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Impressionist pictures | ||
| Year 3 | 3.1- Coding Content: Input/output If statements Debugging Themes: Simulation Algorithms Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Debugged program | 3.4 – Touch Typing Content: Top row Bottom row Home row Themes: Speed of typing Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 3.7 - Simulations Content: Simulations Themes: Problem-solving Puzzles Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Successfully completed computer simulations |
| 3.2 – Online Safety Content: Reliability Password Security Themes: PEGI restrictions Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 3.5 - Email Content: Communication Formal/Informal writing Themes: Sending and receiving emails Adding attachments Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Sending and replying to emails | 3.8 - Graphing Content: Fields Data Themes: Graphs Presentation of data Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Graph presentation |
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| 3.3 - Spreadsheets Content: Cells, rows and columns Data Formula Themes: Graphs and charts Cell location Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Graphs and charts | 3.6 – Branching Databases Content: Data Yes/No questions Themes: Binary trees Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Independent binary trees | ||
| Year 4 | 4.1- Coding Content: If/else statement Repeat commands Timer command Themes: Control simulations Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Simulation | 4.4 – Writing for different audiences Content: Fonts Templates Themes: Newspaper reports Campaign posters and letters Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Newspaper report Campaign poster and letters | 4.7 – Effective Searching Content: Keywords Reliable information Reputable websites Themes: Search engines Easter eggs Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment |
| 4.2 – Online Safety Content: Malware Plagiarism Themes: Identity theft Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 4.5 - Logo Content: Simple instructions Procedures Repeat functions Themes: Creating designs with procedures Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 4.8 – Hardware Investigators Content: Hardware Software Motherboard CPU Themes: Components of a computer Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment |
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| 4.3 - Spreadsheets Content: Formula Spin tool Themes: Graphs and charts Budgeting Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Budgeting spreadsheet | 4.6 – Animation Content: Onion-skinning Animation Themes: Flipbook animation Stop motion animation Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Animations | ||
| Year 5 | 5.1- Coding Content: Text variables Simulations Themes: Creating games with scores and timers Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Game with scores and timers | 5.4 - Databases Content: Sorting, grouping and arranging Themes: Collaborative databases Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Independent database | 5.6 – 3D Modelling Content: 3D shapes Nets Polygons Themes: Designing and printing nets Assembling 3D models Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment 3D Model |
| 5.2 – Online Safety Content: Encryption Images Referencing Themes: Bibliography Digital image alteration Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 5.5 – Game Creator Content: Perspective Playability Instructions Themes: Designing a game Evaluation Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Independent Game | 5.7 – Concept Maps Content: Concept maps Nodes Connections Themes: Discussing a concept Collaborating on a concept map Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Collaborative map presentation |
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| 5.3 – Spreadsheets Content: Formula Models Themes: Converting measurements Budgeting Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Cake sale spreadsheet | |||
| Year 6 | 6.1- Coding Content: Functions Flowcharts Testing and debugging Themes: Programming design Designing text-based adventures Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Text-based adventure | 6.4 - Blogging Content: Blogs are webpages Themes: Creating blog posts Sharing blog posts Commenting on blog posts Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Blog | 6.6 - Networks Content: World Wide Web WAN and LAN Router Themes: History and future of the internet Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment History/Future of the internet presentation |
| 6.2 – Online Safety Content: Digital footprint Screen-time Phishing Themes: Designing Online Safety games Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment | 6.5 – Text Adventures Content: Text-based adventures are games Themes: Map based text adventure are puzzles Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Map-based adventure | 6.7 - Quizzing Content: 5 types of questions Themes: Picture based quizzes Creating quizzes for teachers Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Quiz for teachers/parents |
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| 6.3 - Spreadsheets Content: Formula Probability Themes: Planning events Budgeting money Summative assessment: Knowledge Assessment Real-life simulation – budgeting |