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St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Working Together for the Good of Each Other

Computing

Computing Curriculum Vision

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we recognise that Computing plays an increasingly important role in the lives of our children. Our Computing curriculum is designed to nurture curiosity, creativity and confidence, equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in an ever-changing digital world.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we aim to develop children who use technology confidently, responsibly and ethically. We want our pupils to understand the opportunities technology provides, while also recognising their responsibilities to themselves and others when using digital technology.

Our curriculum is inclusive, progressive and carefully sequenced to ensure that every child can develop their Computing knowledge and skills from their individual starting point. We provide opportunities for children to apply their learning creatively, solve problems, collaborate with others and understand how Computing can be used to support learning across the curriculum and in the wider world.

Intent

Our curriculum is designed to inspire all children to develop knowledge, skills and curiosity that will enable them to become confident and capable users of technology. We recognise the importance of Computing in preparing children for future learning, life and employment in a digital society.

We focus on three key strands of Computing:

Computer Science – developing computational thinking, problem-solving, programming, logical reasoning and debugging skills.
Information Technology – developing the ability to use digital tools to create, manipulate, store, analyse, present and communicate information.
Digital Literacy – developing the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to use technology safely, responsibly and confidently.

Through practical activities, hands-on projects and enquiry-based learning, children are encouraged to explore technology creatively and critically. They develop resilience and independence by testing ideas, solving problems, making mistakes and refining their work.

Our Computing curriculum also supports the wider development of each child. Pupils are encouraged to consider the impact of technology on individuals, communities and society, developing respect, responsibility and an understanding of the ethical use of digital technology.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and ensure that Computing is accessible to all pupils. Teaching is adapted through appropriate scaffolding, resources and support to meet the diverse needs of our children, including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, EAL learners and those requiring additional challenge.

Implementation

Little Promises Pre-School

At Little Promises Pre-School, children's experiences of technology are developed through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. Technology is introduced naturally through play, exploration and everyday experiences, supporting children's learning and development across the seven areas of learning.

Children have opportunities to explore age-appropriate technology and digital devices, developing curiosity, confidence and an understanding of how technology can be used safely and purposefully. These experiences provide an important foundation for the development of digital skills as children progress into Reception and beyond.

EYFS – Reception

In Reception, Computing continues to be integrated into children's wider learning and exploration. Children have opportunities to explore age-appropriate technology and digital devices, developing curiosity, confidence and an understanding of how technology can be used safely and purposefully.

Children begin to develop early Computing concepts through activities involving patterns, sequencing, problem-solving and the use of digital tools. These experiences build on their learning in the Early Years and prepare them for the more structured Computing curriculum in Key Stage 1.

Key Stages 1 and 2

Computing is taught through carefully planned and progressive sequences of learning, ensuring that knowledge and skills build from year to year. Teachers use Kapow as key resources to support the delivery of the National Curriculum.

Lessons include a range of teaching approaches, including direct instruction, practical activities, hands-on projects and enquiry-based learning. Children are given regular opportunities to create, explore, test, debug, evaluate and improve their work.

Computing is taught both discretely and through meaningful cross-curricular links. Children apply their Computing knowledge and skills across subjects, particularly within STEM, Science, Mathematics and Design and Technology. These opportunities enable pupils to understand how technology can be used to investigate problems, communicate ideas and develop creative solutions.

Online safety is an important and integral part of our Computing curriculum. Children learn how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully, how to recognise potential online risks and what to do if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Online safety is also reinforced through other areas of the curriculum, particularly PSHE, ensuring that children receive consistent, age-appropriate messages about responsible online behaviour, digital wellbeing and keeping themselves and others safe.

Assessment is embedded within Computing lessons. Teachers use formative and summative assessment to identify pupils' understanding, monitor the development of knowledge and skills, address gaps and inform future planning. Pupil progress is monitored regularly to ensure that all children are appropriately supported and challenged.

Impact on Children

Children apply their Computing knowledge and skills confidently across the curriculum.

They develop computational thinking, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

They become increasingly independent and resilient when using technology, learning to test, evaluate and improve their work.

They can use a range of digital tools to create, communicate, present and analyse information.

They understand how Computing can be used to support learning and solve problems in real-world contexts.

They understand how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully.

They recognise potential risks associated with using technology and know how to respond appropriately when something causes concern.

They develop an understanding of the impact technology can have on individuals, society and the wider world.

They demonstrate respect, collaboration, responsibility and ethical awareness when working with technology and others.

They develop confidence and skills that support their future learning, aspirations and potential careers.

Impact on Attainment and Progress

High expectations ensure the best possible outcomes in Computing for every child.

Progress is evident from each individual child's starting point, with knowledge and skills developing progressively from children's early experiences in Little Promises Pre-School and Reception through to the end of Key Stage 2.

Assessment information is used to identify strengths, gaps and areas for development and to ensure that teaching responds appropriately to the needs of all learners.

Pupil work and assessment evidence demonstrate the progression of Computing knowledge and skills over time.

Evaluation and Impact on Our Curriculum

Computing is taught both discretely and through carefully planned cross-curricular opportunities to ensure depth, coherence and meaningful application of learning.

The Computing curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains progressive, inclusive, relevant and aligned with the National Curriculum.

Pupil voice, assessment information, work scrutiny and feedback from teachers and leaders contribute to the ongoing evaluation and development of our Computing provision.

The use of resources, software and hardware is reviewed to ensure that children have access to appropriate, relevant and safe technology that supports high-quality learning.

The curriculum is designed to provide a clear progression from children's early experiences of technology in Little Promises Pre-School and the EYFS through to the development of increasingly sophisticated Computing knowledge and skills across Key Stages 1 and 2.

Evaluation and Impact on Our World

Our children are prepared to participate confidently and responsibly in an increasingly digital world.

They understand that technology provides opportunities to create, communicate, collaborate and solve problems, while also recognising the responsibilities that come with its use.

As a Catholic school, we encourage our children to consider how their actions affect others and to use technology in ways that demonstrate respect, compassion, responsibility and care for others.

We want our pupils to leave St Mary's as confident, creative, critical and responsible digital citizens, equipped with the skills, knowledge and ethical awareness to make positive contributions to their communities and the wider world.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School – Working Together for the Good of Each Other

Making animations in Flute Class

Computing in Accordion Class....... we have been looking at following instructions....

Computing in Flute Class

Computing in Harp Class

Lionni Class learnt how to ask yes/no questions to sort information into groups.

Lionni Class collecting data to create pictograms with Purple Mash.

Safer Internet Day 2024

Year 5/6

For internet safety week, Sendak class talked about 'Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online. We came up with our own feelings logos, designed an online safety advert and we talked about how different technology has changed over time.

Year 4/5

Year 4/5 have been looking at how we can stay safe online. We have watched some videos to see the types of ways that we can stay safe online and we talked about how we can make the internet a better place. We talked about the SMART rules and how we can use these when we are using the internet.

Year 4

Year 4 watched Newsround to see the article they did on Safer Internet Day, we completed a quiz and created internet safety posters.

Year 3

We have learnt so much from Coach Corey, he has taught us that our words online have the potential to hurt the people we are playing with. We know that we should never give out personal information to people we don't know.

Year 2

During Internet Safety Week year 2 listened to the story of Smartie the Penguin which taught the children who to tell if they saw something online that made them feel uncomfortable. It then covered the topic of strangers online and that personal information should never be shared. The class then sorted personal information into groups.

Year 1

In Hughes Class we had a huge class discussion about all of the devices and objects we have at home or in school which have internet access. Mrs Cross then set us all a challenge... to think of and remember some rules that will help keep us safe online. Some of the rules we thought of were:

Speak to an adult if we see something online that makes us feel uncomfortable.

Never speak to strangers online.

Always ask our trusted adults before we download apps.

Always ask our trusted adults before we watch anything online.

Hughes Class have been training hard and we have all successfully become 'Cyber Superheroes' .

EYFS

In class we have been looking at a story about Buddy the Dog- he helps children who are unsure about things online. He teaches a song to children to help them be safe....

'Ask your grown-up,

Ask your grown-up,

Ask for help!

Use your tablet safely!

Woof, Woof, Woof!

Woof, Woof, Woof!'

We talked about what to do online, how important speaking to grown-ups are and also things we should do to try and help wind down before bedtime instead of screen-time.

In Computing the year 4/5 children have started looking at spreadsheets, how they work and ways to use them. They have had a go at inputting data into a spreadsheet as well as creating their own spreadsheet using the 2Calculate system on Purple Mash. They also used the How Many tool to count the variables in a spreadsheet such as counting vowels.

Year 1- Hughes Class

Online safety and exploring Purple Mash.

Year 2 making music with purple mash.

Protecting your privacy.

The year 4/5 children have been lookin at ways to protect their privacy online and the importance of this.

This included looking at safe passwords and different features that are best to include to create a secure password. They have also looked at image manipulation and why it is important to not trust everything you see online. They had a go at editing a selfie of their own to see how easy it is to change an image online.

Year 4/5 have been learning all about how to stay safe online. Using this information they created their own comin book on Purple Mash, to share with others the key points to online safety.

S.M.A.R.T

Autumn 1 - Year 4/5

This half term year 4/5 have been learning all about coding using different resources via Purple Mash such as a traffic light system and a football game.

Sendak Class - Coding

Lionni Class -creating pictures with purple mash.

Lego Builders in Year 1

Following a set of instructions to ensure a correct outcome

Merckx class have been using the laptops to research famous volcanic eruptions as part of our geography topic.

King Class have been researching for their explanation texts in their English lessons.

This week during ICT King Class have been learning about impressionism, pointillism and Piet Mondrian's line art and creating our own using purple mash. What do you think?

Safer Internet Day 2023

This week, Holmes Class have been creating pictograms in computing.

This week King Class have been looking at how stories can be represented in different ways. We looked at different types of quizzes and tried to make our own story of Goldilocks and the three bears.

Year 4/5 have been looking at how to stay safe online. We have been focusing on the SMART targets and how these can remind us how we should be using the internet.

Year 2 have been learning how to log into Purple Mash independently. They have been searching and navigating their way around the website. They learnt about internet safety and how we can share safely on the internet.

Using purple mash to sort objects into different groups

After their Scratch competition at Fleetwood High School on Friday, the Digital Leaders taught their classmates how to animate their names using the Scratch programming.

Today some of the year 5 children took part in a Computing Competition at Fleetwood High School. We were asked to create a Scratch game about saving the environment and present it to the other schools. We've had a great day and can't wait to teach the children back at school some of the things we have learnt today!

Year 1 have been using BeeBots for position and direction in Maths.

Year 2 have been researching 'The Big Five' animals to create fact files.

This half term, Year 2 have been using 2paint on purple mash to create, impressionism and pointillism art.

In Year 5, we have been creating our own games. We have set the scene, created our own gaming environment, added a game quest and shared these games with our classmates.

In Polo Class we have been looking at databases. We have been learning about the icons, what they mean and what we use them for. We created our own avatar and created a class database as a group.

Our new unit is Lego Builders. This week the children in year 1 completed a task where they had to use verbal instructions only, to tell their partner what to make using Lego! The children learned that by following the instructions correctly, they will get the correct result.

Safer Internet Day 2022

Year 6 have been coding this week in computing.

Reception class have been using the iPads to explore Purple Mash. They practised logging in using their password and then played some number games on MiniMash.

Year 2 have been playing 'Guess Who' to separate data and they have been asking questions to create binary trees.

Year 1 have been linking their computing to their maths work this week and sorting shapes.

Year 2 have been using Purple Mash to collect data about where they live and they have made pictogram charts of their findings.

Today, Year 5 have been learning how to create a spreadsheet. We used 2Calculate to create a spreadsheet that converted cm into m. We needed to add a formula to the cells in the spreadsheet so that when you entered the numbers, the formula would calculate what the cm/m would become once it is converted.

Digital Leaders

Our digital leaders maintain the Ipads and laptops in school ensuring they are all fit for purpose.

Year 4 Coding in Computing

Today, year 5 created colourful and informative posters showing how to stay safe online. We included lots of information we have learnt during our computing lessons including things such as; plagiarism, not sharing passwords, not sharing personal information and not trusting strangers.

Today in Polo class we used the Ipads in maths to consolidate our multiplication knowledge (4 digits by 1 digit) on My Maths.

This week, Year 1 we have been exploring the different topics on purple mash. We have been focusing on adding text to our images.

This week in year 2 we have been learning how to send emails to Barneby Bear.

Year 5 have been making comics on Purple Mash to show their understanding of sharing digital content, sources they can use for support when online and their responsibilities towards each other with their online behaviour.

EYFS have been working on how they use iPads.

Some of the children in Columbus class had a fantastic time singing and dancing along to some of the songs on the Anomoly board in the playground at lunch time today!

Year 2 have been creating a computer program using algorithms.

Today in Year 5, we have been researching Amazon tribes and finding out interesting facts about the different tribes in the rainforest.

In year 5, we have been looking at decomposition and abstraction. We chose between a meal and a game to write instructions for and used decomposition and abstraction to show what command the computer needs to know.

Year 3 have been working together to understand flowcharts and see how flowcharts are used in computing.

Today, year 5 created an algorithm in order to program a traffic light simulation.

Year 1 have been learning how to log into Purple Mash and change their avatars.

Year 4 have started learning how to write code.

Using their existing code knowledge, the children in year 5 have been able to simplify code and create playable games on Purple Mash.

We have created our own lego hopper and programmed them to move around out classrooms using the Lego Spike computer software.

St Mary's are so excited to use our new Lego Spike Robots!

Year 4/5 have been using iPad to research rainforest animals. The children have been using different search technologies and have collected information for their rainforest posters.

Year 1/2 - How to use a laptop? Year 1/2 have been using the laptops to develop their understanding of logging onto the laptops and using the keyboards and their buttons.

Safer Internet Day 2021

Year 4/5 using Purple Mash to complete computing activities about space.

Using Purple Mash to access coding activities in school and for home learning.

Today, Year 4/5 have been using the Ipads to research facts about WW2. The children are using these facts and gathering information to use within their non - chronological report.

Year 3/4 researching facts about Stonehenge to create posters.

Kestrel Class are really enjoying using the laptops and Ipads to practice their times tables.

Digital Leaders

Buzzard Class have been working on the ELG 'Understanding the World' by using technology and iPads in school.

Kestrel Class have been creating fact files about Italy during multicultural week, using the iPads .

Purple Mash - Year 2 have been comparing Victorian toys with new toys.

Creating Animal Fact Files

Safer Internet Day

Michelangelo class using IT in their daily Maths lesson

Our Maths lesson today involved using the I Pads to investigate Roman numerals. We worked in groups to translate numbers into Roman numerals. It was a lively, informative activity with an emphasis on team work.