Nelson Infant School

Through the study of Computing, children will be able to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that will prepare them for KS2 and equip them for the rest of their lives.

The National Curriculum for Mathematics is at the heart of our learning intentions and we choose to follow a scheme to ensure we have appropriate coverage, it is sequential and structured. The Code.org scheme is based on careful planning from these resources to ensure that it is personalised for the needs of our children.

We ensure all pupils can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science. All pupils can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.

It is vital to teach our children how to use technology safely and therefore interwoven into all aspects of computing is e-safety. The DfE non-statutory guidance will be used to supplement and support the planning of teaching online safety. The National Online Safety (NOS) is also a resource to be used to support teaching and learning. The NOS website supports the teachers on their subject knowledge and to keep up to date.

EYFS

Although the revised EYFS framework has removed the Technology strand there are many opportunities within each area of the framework to enable children to develop computing skills. There are many opportunities to use technology to solve problems and produce creative outcomes. Computing is introduced indirectly through activities and enhanced continuous provision which encourages children to develop their use of computational thinking skills.

It is important that all children have the opportunity to have a range of practical plugged and unplugged tasks to develop their Computer Science skills. The blend of online and unplugged non-computer activities teach children computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and Digital Literacy. Knowledge and skills are taught progressively, allowing the children to embed their learning over time. Children are introduced to programming through loops, coding and debugging.

In KS1 Information Technology is taught both discreetly, and used to enhance other areas of the curriculum. Our children use technology purposefully to create, organise, store and manipulate digital content. Children learn how to use an iPad to access a variety of age-appropriate apps and how to log on to ‘Seesaw’ an interactive learning platform to document and explain their learning. They are encouraged to use the iPads to take their own photos and videos, learning how to manipulate these images.

We teach Online Safety as an explicit part of our curriculum. We discuss issues such as; keeping personal information private, trusting people and sources online, treating others online as we would in real life, posting private information online, what to do if anything makes children feel uncomfortable online and finding out about our digital footprints. We use stories such as Smartie the Penguin, Troll Stinks, Penguin Pig and Chicken Clicken to reinforce online safety throughout the year

All of our children have access to a bank of laptops and iPads to support their learning. We use Code.org, Bee Bot App, Scratch Junior, Phonics Play and other software packages to aid teaching and learning. We have interactive whiteboards in every classroom and these are used daily to further enable and enhance learning.