Computing

Intent

At Manor Park Primary Academy, we believe that the computing curriculum should promote enjoyment around using technology, promote an appreciation for the subject, its vast developments over time and ignite a love of learning. The curriculum plans for progressive, well-resourced content which empowers our children to become independent and resilient learners. We intend to equip students with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the Computing National Curriculum but prepare them to safely navigate the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of the outside world. We wish to encourage the flexibility to continue to adapt with the ever changing landscape of technology. We aim for our pupils to develop transferable skills which will assist them as they move throughout primary school, onto secondary education and to become lifelong learners in the 21st century.

At Manor Park our Aims are:

• To use a whole school approach to Computing to ensure continuity, progression and quality of teaching and learning for all pupils.
• To enable pupils to gain confidence and enjoyment from their Computing activities and develop skills which extend and enhance their learning throughout the curriculum, using a range of tools.
• To foster a responsible and safe attitude to the use of Computing in school and in the wider community.

 Implementation

At Manor Park Computing is taught discretely however, where meaningful, some links may be made to some of our Cornerstones 22 Learning Projects, for example, where building code can be planned within a meaningful context to other subjects. 

Our planning ensures that objectives covered in each year group focus on fundamental knowledge and skills and are clearly sequenced and progressive.  There is a focus on computational thinking and creativity, as well as opportunities for creative work in programming and digital media. 

At Manor Park we focus on the fundamental skills, knowledge and concepts that children will develop; these are regularly updated to ensure that pupils develop the skills needed for the 21st Century. These are categorised into the following strands:

• Online Safety    

• Computer Science (CS)

• Information Technology (IT) 

• Digital literacy skills (DL)

The core of Computing is Computer Science in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation; how digital systems work; and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. By building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use Information Technology to create programs, systems and a range of content using software such as Scratch and Lego coding. 

Computing also ensures that pupils become Digitally Literate– able to use, express themselves, problem solve and develop their ideas through information and communication technology, at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

At Manor Park we have invested highly in technologies and programs to enhance learning, creativity and communication with computing lessons and throughout the curriculum e.g. Green Screen, Adobe Express, Nearpod. Our schools Digital Leaders help to choose, test and develop the use of these tools, attending the annual BETT awards to ensure we are knowledgeable of the latest advances in technology for eduaction.

Digital devices, such as Chromebooks and Chrometabs, are distributed around the school, to support pupils' access the computing curriculum and beyond, along with a range of other resources such as programmable toys and visualisers. In 2020 all pupils from Year 2 were provided with their own Chromebook to use in school and at home to further enhance teaching and learning and to promote further creativity and engagement. 

Learning can be extended into the home environment through the use of GoogleClassroom, Seesaw and other educational tools such as  J2Launch (provided through the London Grid for Learning), Timestables Rockstars and Doodle Maths & English. Here parents, carers and pupils can access a range of curriculum resources and support, and can access free web2 resources. 

In addition to these opportunities, the computing curriculum is further promoted and enhanced through the following enrichment opportunities: Adobe  Challenges,  Safer Internet Day, Digital Leaders, Coding Club. 

In 2015 and again in 2018, we achieved the NAACE (National Association of Advisors for Computers in Education) award for our provision of Computing & Technology at the school. 

Online Safety is taught discretely in the autumn term throughout EYFS and Key Stage One & Two, using the ‘Education for a Connected World’ Framework and reviewed throughout the school year. This Framework has been built upon by the school to incorporate lessons and resources from the Thinkuknow Website and the Google ‘Be Internet Legends’ Scheme for KS2. This ensures that children are given the knowledge and understanding to work safely, responsibly and with a healthy approach to technology throughout the rest of the school year. Within this framework Children are taught to be aware of the 4 main risks involved in using the Internet, often referred to as the 4C’s (See planning for where the 4c’s are referenced):

Content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material
Contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users
Conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm  Commerce: these are risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising and financial scams.

Objectives are revisited, developed and often put into practice throughout the year considering pupils’ use of technology across the curriculum in school and at home. Online Safety is also integrated within the PSE Curriculum ‘Scarf’ and makes important links to our Financial Education scheme of work; please see here. 

Teachers also build in lessons throughout the year where they feel it is appropriate for the children in their class e.g. safety guidance on a new game or app that is being widely used in the class. Our Online Safety lessons and resources are adapted each year in line with digital interests of pupils in each class, evaluations of pupil online safety questionnaires and advances in technology and online safety, making them more meaningful to pupils at that present time. 

In 2020, we achieved the LGfL Digital Excellence Award for Keeping Children Safe Online.

Please see below for the Computing Curriculum Overview and Progression Maps. 

Impact

At Manor Park the computing curriculum is ambitious and forward thinking, meeting all of the National Curriculum expectations and at times exceeding these. All pupils have access to our computing curriculum regardless of starting points. As a result pupils develop the knowledge and skills that support them to become active participants in an ever changing digital world. 

The teaching of the computing curriculum enables our children to use digital devices with confidence both within the Computing Curriculum and to support and enhance their learning across all subjects. Pupils are able to communicate their ideas using a range of media; they are competent in their digital literacy skills and the knowledge of how to stay safe online. Computing skills learned at school enable pupils to be well prepared for secondary school, further education and the modern workplace as critical thinking problem solvers who are adept at navigating today’s digital world.

The impact of our computing curriculum is measured by speaking to the children themselves and seeing their love of computing and the use of technology in lessons. Our Digital Leaders feed back to the Computing Lead with rigour on our computing curriculum, their classroom experiences and hopes for the computing curriculum of the future.

Computing Enrichment

In Years 2-6, all children embark on a 1:1 Chromebook journey, equipped with their own personalised learning device to explore the digital world both at school and home. This opens doors to exciting after-school activities like our Coding Club, where young minds learn to solve real-life problems with the power of code! Using LEGO bricks and intuitive software, they'll design robots, program animations, and bring their creations to life – fostering problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity in a fun and engaging way. Using their 1:1 device, children have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field by taking part in live sessions with Adobe.

At Manor Park, children have the opportunity to become a ‘Digital Leader’ which empowers them to be at the forefront of technology in our school. By participating, students attend events like the prestigious BETT Show in London, where they connect with other tech-savvy students, learn from industry experts, and share their own digital experiences with the community. Some children also have the opportunity to visit Google Head Offices in London to share their experience of using technology in the classroom.