At Highfield Primary School, our Computing curriculum will develop our children’s computing skills to enable them to access the modern world and prepare them for their digital future; knowing how to be safe and resilient online and being digitally literate. This will include the principles of digital literacy and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. We recognise that computing has deep links with other subjects including Mathematics, Science, and Design Technology and aim to utilise this to embed pupils’ learning across a range of subjects. This will ensure digital literacy is woven through all aspects of school life.

Our Computing Curriculum provides opportunities for all pupils to understand and apply the most important principles and concepts of Computer Science including:

• abstraction
• logic
• algorithms
• data representation

These aims are embedded across our Computing lessons and in the wider curriculum where, problem solving, debugging and internet safety are an expected outcome and actively encouraged.

In the Early Years curriculum (E.Y.F.S.), computing is taught through a thematic approach, which enables the children to explore their knowledge and understanding of electronical devices and how they work. Their learning will be delivered through a variety of contexts, including role play areas and specific computing lessons.

 In Nursery our children are taught to:

• use an inputting device, predict the desired outcome and observe this outcome
• understand simple safety associated with computing
• understand different types of technology and where this can be found- in school and out of school

In Reception our children will be taught to:

• select and use technology for different purposes
• follow instructions and predict a desired outcome
• recognise that a range of technology is used in places such as homes and schools
• begin to understand how to use simple technological devices such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens etc.
• use computing hardware to interact with age-related appropriate computing software

In Key Stages One and Two, Computing is delivered in weekly lessons using the Primary Computing Programme, ‘icompute’. Through the delivery of this programme our children will:

• experience both computer-based and unplugged lessons
• explore their computing skills through opportunities to experiment and explore in a range of problem-solving contexts
• use Scratch and Kodu, to create, implement and debug simple algorithms
• develop the appropriate skills to create and debug more complicated programs with specific goals
• understand concepts such as: variables and sequence, selection and repetition in programs
• develop their logical reasoning skills
•  understand the digital footprint we leave including when using websites and other internet services
• focus on being safe whilst working in a digital environment

At Highfield, internet safety is a key focus across all years and as well as being part of Computing, it is supported through assemblies, P.S.H.E. lessons and ‘Internet Safety Day’.

We teach our children how to use technology safely and respectfully, keep personal information private and to identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about either the content or contact on the internet or any other online technologies.

In support of this teaching we use a resource called ‘Wake Up Wednesdays’ to provide our children and their Parents and Carers with the tools to better understand the digital world and online safety for children and young people. ‘Wake Up Wednesdays’ resources not only provide information regarding online safety, but also explore the areas of mental health, wellbeing and climate change.

The information is presented through relevant, highly engaging and expertly written posters and factsheets which are displayed in specially designated areas within school and on the school website.

For further information regarding ‘Wake Up Wednesdays’ and to access all resources, please visit the Highfield Primary School website’s ‘Safeguarding Portal’ page and select the ‘Wake Up Wednesdays’ menu.  

Ultimately, our curriculum is designed to ensure, that as our children move from Highfield to further their education and learning, their knowledge of digital literacy will enable them to use, and express themselves at a level suitable for not only the future workplace but as active participants in a digital world. That through the curriculum, we have equipped our children with the computing knowledge and creative skills that they will need to live a happy, fulfilling and safe life.