Ms Louise Roberts
Computing Subject Leader
Why do we teach Computing?
At TIS our computing curriculum aims to provide children with the skills to live in an ever increasing digital world. Through the use of a range of hardware and software children are given the opportunity to apply their curiosity of the digital world and use their skills to create programs, systems and content. Oracy is promoted through discussions about the digital world and learning subject specific language. Computing skills are woven through all subject areas and in an integral part of all learning. Children are taught what it means and how to participate effectively and safely in the digital world, with the skills to equip them in their next stage of education. This is achieved through the direct teaching of skills and experiential learning. Children have the opportunity to apply what they learn across the curriculum allowing them to build on their knowledge and skills as they progress through the school.
How do we teach Computing?
Teaching through experiential learning, we provide the children with a range of experiences using hardware (ipads, cboards, beebots) and software (purple mash, Education city, clicker, scractch junior etc). Many computing lessons link to other parts of the curriculum such as science and maths. Some lessons are to teach specific computing skills such as programming and debugging. A very important part of our Computing teaching is online safety. This is taught every half term to every child across the school and reinforces the messages of ;
- self image and identity - how people may be different online to the real world
- online relationships - how to communicate safely and respectfully online
- online reputation - what I should say and do online
- online bullying - how to seek help with online bullying and recognise what this is
- managing online information - using search engines safely
- health, wellbeing and lifestyle - rules for using technology
- privacy and security - personal information sharing and passwords
- copyright and ownership - who content on the internet belongs to
We also actively participate in the Online Safety Day each February and hold Online Safety Assemblies where the children show parents and carers what they have learnt about keeping safe online. Throughout all computing lessons and when technology is being used by the children, we remind them about our online safety rules.
How your child will make progress in Computing during their time at Telford Infant School.
We have a very clear progression map in place which enables the children to build on the skills they have as they move through the year groups.
In reception Computing is not a specific curriculum subject but is embedded in the provision. For example, the children use the classroom Cboard to create art, write simple programmes and research informationwith help from an adult.
In Year 1 and 2 the children have access to class sets of ipads which have a number of educational apps on them. They are given the responsibility and teaching to access these apps independently and navigate their way around them. For example, year 2 use Scratch Junior to create, run and debug a simple programme.
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Purpose of study
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The 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. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Aims
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
Subject Content
Pupils should be taught to:
- understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- create and debug simple programs
- use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.
Online Safety Tips for parents
We hope the following tips are helpful at home.
- Tell your child to tell a trusted grownup if they feel worried about anything they experience online.
- Know what your children are doing online and who they are talking to.
- Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used.
- Keeping the computer in a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience.
- Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends, including any pictures of themselves, their family or friends. If your child publishes a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Remind them that anyone may be looking at their images.
- If your child receives spam or junk email remind them never to believe them, reply to them or use them. It’s not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don’t know. They won’t know what they contain — it could be a virus or an inappropriate image.
- Help your child to understand that some people lie online. They should never meet up with any strangers without an adult they trust.
- Always keep communication open for a child to know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
Online Safety Websites
You may find these websites useful if you wish find out more about internet safety:
- www.ceop.gov.uk – The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the abuse of children. They are a Government agency that is part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account either directly or in partnership with local and international forces.
- www.thinkuknow.co.uk – The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has set up its own educational website which has been designed and written specifically for children, young people, teachers, parents and carers.
- www.commonsensemedia.org - is a great website for parents to check out the content and suitability of games, movies, tv shows and books to make an informed decision about what children should be accessing.
