Computing

Computing at Ellingham

At Ellingham, we aim to provide children with a stimulating, high-quality computing curriculum that addresses the challenges and opportunities offered by the technologically rich world we live in, preparing them for jobs of the future. Computing skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative, resilient and independent learners and it is our intention that children have every opportunity available to allow them to achieve this through regular computing lessons.  

‘Computational Thinking’ is a skill children must be taught in order to provide them with essential knowledge and skills that will enable them to participate effectively in the digital world. Children will understand how computers work, how computing systems work and how they are designed and programmed. Through regular teaching of e-safety, we strive for all our children to be responsible, respectful members of the community and empower them to use technology safely and independently.

By the time they leave Ellingham, children will have gained key knowledge and skills in the three main areas of the computing curriculum: computer science (programming and understanding how digital systems work), information technology (using computer systems to store, retrieve and send information) and digital literacy (evaluating digital content and using technology safely and respectfully). The objectives within each strand support the development of learning across the key stages, ensuring a solid grounding for future learning and beyond.

The aims of teaching computing, as outlined in the national curriculum are to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation

• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems

• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems 

• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

You can see our curriculum mapping on the Computing Policy below. 

Planning, assessment and monitoring

The development of computing knowledge, understanding and skills are continually assessed through planning, teaching and reviewing.

·         When using internet services to communicate and collaborate, make explicit reference to how this should be done safely and responsibly

·         When teaching programming, set progressively difficult problems that children have to solve in pairs, small groups as well as independently

·         Plan for an integrated approach to the subject, especially for the KS1 and lower KS2

·         Formative assessment needs to be part of any computing teaching. Examples of this are peer assessment or self-assessment against agreed criteria.

·         Summative assessment should be carried out against the computing curriculum content statements for KS1 and KS2. This is a simple record of pupils who have learnt the content and those who have not.