Our Computing Co-ordinator is Mrs Whitehurst

Computing delivery:

All pupils at Arundale have the right to have rich, deep learning experiences that balance all the aspects of computing. With technology playing such a significant role in society today, we believe ‘Computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught if they are to be able to participate effectively and safely in this digital world. A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. At Arundale, the core of computing is Computer Science in which pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology, including laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards, allowing them to continually practice and improve the skills they learn. This ensures they become digitally literate so that they are able to express themselves and develop their ideas through information and computer technology– at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Structure

Teachers work to deliver an exciting, innovative and progressive framework which is supported by the 'Teach Computing' programme and which builds on prior learning and experiences. We also work closely with a specialist computing team, in UKS2, to ensure the children have the opportunity to develop their skills even further with lessons which challenge and embed their learnt skills. UKS2 Teachers receive planning and feedback from the In2learn staff which allows for additional cross curricular links to be made outside of the structured computing lessons. Assessments are carried out termly using online tasks set to challenge and allow the children to consolidate their computer skills, knowledge and learning against other children of a similar age nationally.

We teach a curriculum that enables children to become effective users of technology who can:

• Understand and apply the essential principles and concepts of Computer Science, including logic, algorithms and data representation;

• Analyse problems in computational term, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems;

• Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems;

• Communicate ideas well by utilising appliances and devices throughout all areas of the curriculum.

Internet Safety

Arundale Primary takes internet safety extremely seriously. We have an E-Safety Policy that provides guidance for teachers and children about how to use the internet safely. Every year group participates in lessons on e-safety and children understand how to stay safe when using technology. You may find the following links useful to help your child stay safe online at home:

Outcomes

Our Computing curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes
• Children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation;
• Children can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems;
• Children can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems;
• Children are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
• A celebration of learning for each term which demonstrates progression across the school;
• Tracking of gains in online assessment tasks;
• Pupil discussions about their learning;