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Computing

With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill that all children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world.

Click here for our Computing Policy

Click here for our computing skills content and online safety links

Click here for our online safety coverage overview

 

Computing Intent

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use creativity to understand and change the world. Our core scheme ‘Rising Stars: Switched On’ is supplemented with resources from Teachcomputing.org. to cover the following strands:

  • Programming
  • Computational Thinking
  • Creativity
  • Computer Networks
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Productivity

 

Self-image and Identity                                Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle

Bullying                                                              Online Relationships

Managing Online Information                     Privacy and Security

Copyright and Ownership                            Online Reputation

 

Our scheme has full National Curriculum coverage. Each computing unit is relevant to the pupils’ lives,  requiring them to solve a real-life problem and helping them make connections and see the ‘big picture’. There are close links with our RSHE planning, and wider cross-curricular links are fully integrated so that pupils continually practice and improve the skills they learn, ensuring they become digitally literate and are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in an ever-changing world.

We believe that online safety is an essential part of safeguarding and acknowledge our duty to ensure that all learners and staff are protected from potential harm online.

We take internet safety extremely seriously.  We have an Online Safety Policy that provides guidance for teachers and children. Me-safety is addressed in every computing unit through planned lessons using 'Education for a Connected World', Project Evolve and Internet Legend resources, so that our children understand how to stay safe when using technology.                                                  Online safety messages are reinforced whenever technology or the internet is in use.

The eight aspects of online safety: 

Self-image and Identity                                Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle

Bullying                                                              Online Relationships

Managing Online Information                     Privacy and Security

Copyright and Ownership                            Online Reputation

 

Inclusion

At Netherseal St Peter’s Primary School, we believe that Computing has the potential to empower pupils with SEND. Computing is an essential tool for inclusion. It enables children with SEND, whatever their needs, to use technology purposefully in ways that make the wider curriculum accessible, empower those with communication difficulties to engage with others and to fully include everyone in activities and learning. 

Our Computing scheme of work, based on Rising Stars Switched on Computing, promotes inclusion through a "can-do" approach, providing differentiated guidance for every lesson to ensure accessibility for all pupils, including those with SEND. It supports diverse learners by embedding scaffolding, visual aids, and extension tasks to build digital literacy and confidence across all abilities.   It also offers children with SEND varied and engaging ways to communicate, collaborate, express ideas and demonstrate success - all pupils have an opportunity to participate, be challenged, learn and progress. 

 

Adaptations:

 

·        Providing collaborative, project-based learning to foster confidence

·        Using accessible tools (where appropriate): coloured screens, screen readers, text-to-speech etc

·        Breaking down complex tasks into small, structured steps with visual checklists

·        Utilising block-based coding (e.g. Scratch) which is highly visual

  • Reducing sensory distractions, through providing quiet workspaces, and allowing peer support
  • Allowing pupils to demonstrate understanding through our big curriculum design, for example, presentations, video recordings, verbal explanations rather than just written work
  • Pre-teaching vocabulary

·        Focusing on small structured steps that build towards achieving an overall objective

  • to build confidence and celebrate success early
  • Ensuring lessons follow similar patterns and involve aspects that appeal to various learning styles

·        A range of teaching approaches and material enable pupils to access learning e.g. colourful support materials/worksheets

·        Unplugged activities used to make it easier to explore the concepts involved and to ask questions. This can be really beneficial to learners with communication or learning difficulties who find abstract concepts difficult and require a multimodal approach. Unplugged activities can include a range of sensory approaches, from physical movements, and from manipulating objects to drawing pictures. These types of activities enable the use of familiar contexts to teach new concepts and knowledge. 

 

Quick Link to our Online Safety Page