Computing

Curriculum Intent

Our aim at Devoran School is to ensure all pupils become responsible digital citizens. Advances in technology have an increasing impact on all our lives. Through teaching computing, we aim to equip our children to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. It is our intention to enable children to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. With the knowledge that computing will undoubtedly continue to form a major part of the children’s lives at home, in further education and places of work, we ensure that the experiences and abilities that the children develop are effective and transferrable life skills.  

At Devoran School we believe that Computing and the use of ICT is central to the education of all children. We aim to give each pupil the opportunity to apply and develop their technological understanding and skills across a wide range of situations and tasks. Pupils are encouraged to develop a confident and safe approach to Computing and the use of ICT, with the understanding of the capabilities and flexibility of their resources. With the knowledge that Computing and ICT will undoubtedly continue to form a major part in the children’s life at home, in further education and places of work, we ensure the Computing and ICT experiences and abilities that the children are equipped with at Devoran, are effective and transferrable life skills.

Computing at Devoran

The core of computing is computer science and at Devoran School children will be taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Children will be equipped to use ICT to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing at Devoran ensures that children become digitally literate, able to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT, at a level suitable for their academic stage, that will develop them for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Computing skills are vital to modern day life and in an ever-increasing digital age, it's equally important that children are learning these skills from a young age. We aim to give each pupil the opportunity to apply and develop their technological understanding and skills across a wide range of situations and tasks. Pupils are encouraged to develop a confident and safe approach to Computing and the use of ICT, with the understanding of the capabilities and flexibility of their resources.

Online Safety

Online Safety is becoming a huge part of our lives and the children at Devoran School are taught about the dangers that using the internet can bring and how they can protect themselves to get the full enjoyment out of going online,

The information contained in the following guide is designed to help you when discussing and reinforcing positive messages about your child’s life ‘online.’ As adults, it is our responsibility to support our young people in an ever expanding and diverse digital age.

As young people continue to spend more and more time working and socialising in a digital world, it is more important than ever that we equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to enable them to remain safe and confident whilst online.

 

Outcomes

EYFS

We aim to provide our pupils with a broad, play-based experience of Computing in a range of contexts. We believe the following:

  • Early Years learning environments should feature ICT scenarios based on experience in the real world, such as in role play.
  • Recording devices can support children to develop their communication skills. This is especially useful for children who have English as an additional language.
  • Pupils gain confidence, control and language skills through opportunities to ‘paint’ on the interactive board/devices or control remotely operated toys.
  • Outdoor exploration is an important aspect, supported by ICT toys such as beebots and walkie-talkie sets.

Key Stage 1

  • Understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following a sequence of instructions.
  • Write and test simple programs.
  • Organise, store, manipulate and retrieve data in a range of digital formats.
  • Communicate safely and respectfully online, keeping personal information private, and recognise common uses of information technology beyond school.

Key Stage 2

  • Design and write programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts.
  • Describe how Internet search engines find and store data; use search engines effectively; be discerning in evaluating digital content; respect individuals and intellectual property; use technology responsibly, securely and safely.
  • Use sequence, selection and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output; generate appropriate inputs and predicted outputs to test programs.
  • Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
  • Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.
  • Understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the worldwide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.