Intent
At St Oswald’s, we believe a high-quality computing education equips all children, including disadvantaged children, children with SEND and EAL children, with the skills and knowledge in computational thinking and creativity to help them to understand the world that they live in and be ambitious, successful young people. Computing has strong links to a many subjects including mathematics, science, design and technology and therefore it is also integrated into all areas of learning, using a range of hardware, software and opportunities. At St Oswald’s, we recognise that children are entitled to quality software and hardware as well as a structured and progressive approach to the learning of the skills needed to enable them to use it effectively. We provide an enjoyable curriculum for all children, as well as using it for a tool to enhance learning throughout the wider curriculum.
By the time they leave our school, children will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the computing curriculum:
Computer Science (programming and understanding how digital systems work)
Information Technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information)
Digital Literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully).
We also firmly believe the importance of delivering a high-quality E-Safety curriculum, alongside these three strands. E-safety is embedded throughout the computing curriculum and supports and consolidates the strong presence of E-safety within our PSHE curriculum.
Implementation
In Years 1 to 6 our children participate in regular Computing lessons using a structured scheme of set lessons. In EYFS, rather than a scheme with set lessons, the Early Years curriculum is designed to integrate into the day-today routine and set-up of our Early Years setting with opportunities for using Purple Mash and Barefoot to support our children in working towards early learning goals. We have invested in Purple Mash to support teachers with their planning and delivery of the Computing curriculum as it caters for all children, including those with SEND, EAL and from disadvantaged backgrounds. This allows our children to build on their learning as they progress through school, increasing their vocabulary and improving their knowledge and skills. E-safety is referred to in every computing unit, in addition to discrete units taught at some point throughout the year. Our PSHE curriculum also contributes to our delivery of e-safety. Our E-saftey lessons build on prior knowledge and are adapted to suit the requirements of the children within the class and current issues that may be relevant. We also take part annually in ‘Internet Safety Day’ which reflects current issues. We engage with parents and carers and provide up to date information regarding keeping children safe online.
Impact
Evidence of progression and achievement will be seen in examples of children’s work stored on the server. As a result of effective implementation, children will be able to apply their skills and knowledge in other areas of learning. Children will be able to share their knowledge of how to be a responsible user of technology through discussion when questioned. Children will be familiar with and will discuss their understanding of the three main strands and will know key vocabulary associated with these.