Intent

Computing at Hillborough Infant and Nursery School intends to develop ‘thinkers of the future’ through a modern, ambitious and relevant education in computing. We want to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity that will enable them to become active participants in the digital world. It is important to us that the children understand how to use the ever-changing technology to express themselves, as tools for learning and as a means to drive their generation forward into the future.

Whilst ensuring they understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with online experiences, we want children to develop as respectful, responsible and confident users of technology, aware of measures that can be taken to keep themselves and others safe online.

Our aim is to provide a computing curriculum that is designed to balance acquiring a broad and deep knowledge alongside opportunities to apply skills in various digital contexts. Beyond teaching computing discreetly, we will give pupils the opportunity to apply and develop what they have learnt across wider learning in the curriculum.

Implement

Teachers demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm for the subject content and their expectations of the pupils are driven by the subject progression grids. These have been written with four core areas of Computing in mind:

• Using and Understanding Technology in the Real World

• Computational Thinking and Programming 

• Digital Literacy - creating, designing, editing, manipulating, presenting, collecting, analysing 

• Online Safety and Digital Literacy 

We follow a broad and balanced Computing curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow a Computing scheme that ensures and progression of skills and covers all aspects of the Computing curriculum. All classes will have a scheduled Computing lesson each week in our Computing suite. We want to ensure that Computing is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using technology are always taken.

Impact

The outcomes of the broad teaching of Computing across the school is seen in the children’s work, sometimes in the fortnightly newsletter to parents and through various displays that are put up showcasing their work throughout the year.

Computing assessment is ongoing, to inform teachers with their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. Pupils’ learning can be assessed comparative to their starting points at the end of every topic, using the information on their knowledge organisers. Computing teaching is also monitored regularly using a variety of strategies, such as book looks, learning walks, lesson observations and pupil voice (here a few children are asked about their experience of Computing teaching and the knowledge they have acquired).

We aim for all children to achieve age related expectations in Computing at the end of the Key Stage and that they will have a good understanding of the four core areas of Computing.