Subject Policy

For Online safety policy and information about how we are keeping in line with KCSIE 2021 documentation, please refer to the Online safety at Longton section of the website. For more links/contacts/information for Parents about Online safety, please refer to the Online safety for Parents section.

Computing Policy

How do we teach Computing?

Intent:

At Longton Primary School, we understand the immense value that technology plays not only in supporting the Computing and whole school curriculum but overall in the day-to-day life of our school.  Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for Computing whilst also providing enhanced collaborative learning opportunities, engagement in rich content and supporting pupil’s conceptual understanding of new concepts which support the needs of all our pupils.

“A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world….core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming.  Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content.” (National Curriculum)

Our Computing curriculum aims to develop the heart and mind of every child.  Computing teaching at Longton Primary School has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology and our aim is to provide a broad and balanced curriculum whilst ensuring that pupils become digitally literate and digitally resilient.  Technology is ever evolving and we aim to develop pupils who can use and express themselves, develop their ideas through, information and communication technology at a suitable level for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

The aims of our Computing curriculum are to develop pupils who:

• Are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
• Know how to keep themselves safe whilst using technology and on the internet and be able to minimise risk to themselves and others.
• Become responsible, respectful and competent users of data, information and communication technology.
• Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
• Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• Can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation.
• Become digitally literate and are active participants in a digital world.
• Are equipped with the capability to use technology throughout their lives.
• Understand the importance of governance and legislation regarding how information is used, stored, created, retrieved, shared and manipulated.
• Have a ‘can do’ attitude when engaging with technology and its associated resources.
• Utilise computational thinking beyond the Computing curriculum.
• Understand and follow the SMART Online safety rules.
• Understand the Online safety messages can keep them safe online.
• Know who to contact if they have concerns.
• Apply their learning in a range of contexts, e.g. at school and at home.
• Know where to locate the CEOP button and how to use it.

Implementation:

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in computing, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.  Computing is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum and at Longton implementation of the computing curriculum is in line with 2014 Primary National Curriculum requirements for KS1 and KS2 and the Foundation Stage Curriculum in England.  This provides a broad framework and outlines the knowledge and skills taught in each key stage.

Computing teaching at Longton will deliver the requirements of the National Curriculum through half-termly units.  We use Jam Coding curriculum (which is a curriculum based on Teach Computing DFE backed curriculum) to deliver to support teacher’s subject knowledge and lesson development.   Jam Coding’s spiral curriculum highlights the knowledge, skills and vocabulary for each year group and is progressive from year to year.  Our Computing progression model is broken down into four strands that make up the computing curriculum.  These are Creating Media, Networks, Data and Programming. The teaching of Online Safety is covered at Longton combined with units or discreetly by teachers using the National Online Safety teaching resources. Our Computing Progression Model ensures consistency and progression throughout the school.

We recognise that computing is a specialist subject and not all teachers are computing specialists.  Computing at Longton is mainly taught by a specialist teacher whilst teaching staff have their PPA time.  The Jam Coding scheme of work enables clear coverage of the computing curriculum whilst also providing support and CPD for less confident teachers to deliver lessons.

At Longton teachers use Jam Coding scheme of work alongside the Computing Progression Model.  Computing lessons are broken down into weekly units, usually with two units taught per half-term.  Repetition of a unit does not mean pupils are repeating an activity, it simply means pupils are building on established skills whilst also embedding previous concepts. Units are practical and engaging and allow computing lessons to be hands on.  Units cover a broad range of computing components such as coding, spreadsheets, Internet and Email, Databases, Communication networks, touch typing, animation, coding and online safety.

When teaching computing teachers should also follow the children’s interests to ensure their learning is engaging, broad and balanced.  Teachers should ensure that ICT and computing capability is also achieved through core and foundation subjects and where appropriate and necessary ICT and computing should be incorporated into work for all subjects using our wide range of interactive ICT resources.

Through Jam Coding our teachers can deliver thematic, cross curricular lessons that also follow children’s interests and provide flexibility.  

Computing teaching at Longton is practical and engaging and a variety of teaching approaches and activities are provided based on teacher judgement and pupil ability.  We have a wide range of resources to support our computing teaching including but not limited to, Chrome Books, iPads, laptops, bee-bots, pro-bots, webcams, crumble, video recorders and cameras. Pupils may use laptops or iPads independently, in pairs, alongside an assistant teacher or in a group with the teacher.  Teachers and pupils are also aware of the importance of health and safety and pupils are always supervised when using technology and accessing the internet.

Pupils at Longton are fully encouraged to engage with ICT and technology outside of school. Computing work can be stored and saved using Google Classroom.  Homework can be set using Google Classroom.  Parents at Longton are also encouraged to support the implementation of ICT and computing where possible by encouraging use of ICT and computing skills at home during homework tasks and support pupils beyond the classroom.

Alongside our curriculum provision pupils at Longton also have the opportunity to participate in after school computing clubs run by a Jam Coding teacher.  Examples of clubs previously or currently run include, Stop Motion, coding and 3D animation.  These clubs aim to provide additional computing support and enjoyment whilst further challenging pupils who possess exceptional computing abilities.

Special Educational Needs Disability (SEND) / Pupil Premium / Higher Attainers

All children will have Quality First Teaching.  Any children with identified SEND or in receipt of pupil premium funding may have work additional to and different from their peers in order to access the curriculum dependent upon their needs.  As well as this, our school offers a demanding and varied curriculum, providing children with a range of opportunities in order for them to reach their full potential and consistently achieve highly from their starting points.

At Longton Primary School we provide a variety of opportunities for computing learning inside and outside the classroom.  Computing and safeguarding go hand in hand and at Longton we provide a huge focus on internet safety inside and outside of the classroom.  Additional to all pupils studying an online safety unit through their computing lessons, every year we also take part in National Internet Safety Day in February.  The Computing co-ordinator alongside class teachers will plan additional internet safety lessons and activities to take part in following a specific yearly theme.  Internet Safety assemblies are also held as well as parent internet safety workshops, all parents have access to the National Online Safety resources that Longton Primary subscribe to. In addition monthly guides are provided for parents on different online apps and the possible dangers. All teaching staff at Longton have received their CEOP training and will utilise the CEOP online materials to encourage discussions, support issues as they arise in and out of the classroom and promote the materials to parents/carers.  Finally, at Longton we actively encourage parent partnership within the computing curriculum and outside of school.  Parents are made aware of Online safety issues through the school website, links and training on the National Online Safety Website, guides sent via Parent letters and on the school website, parent presentations, shared activities and guidance.

Impact:

Our Computing Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills.  We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different computational components and alike, other subject’s discreet vocabulary progression also form part of the units of work.

If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
• Governor monitoring with our subject computing link governor.
• Moderation staff meetings with opportunities for dialogue between teachers.
• Photo evidence and images of the pupils practical learning.
• Video analysis through recording of performance in lessons.
• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes.
• Learning walks and reflective staff feedback (teacher voice).
• Dedicated Computing leader time.
• Curriculum Tracker