Computing

At Catton Grove Primary School, we are digital innovators. We want our children to acquire a world-leading computing education and develop an ambitious mindset to believe they can achieve their goals and dreams. Through our curriculum, pupils will recognise the significance and impact computing has in the wider world and how computing influences many roles within the modern workplace. A part of our computing curriculum is to promote that the digital world is ever evolving. By exposing them through our broad and balanced curriculum they can make connections with their learning and the real world, which will grow their ambitions to be part of careers in the working world such as sottware engineers, I consultants, video game designers or web developers. We are aware of the digital divide some of our pupils experience so we ensure we provide a rich variety of experiences through accessing a range of digital devices, making the pupils aware of computing role models or experts, awareness days and examples of computing in the local area.

Curriculum design

At Catton Grove, we teach our pupils to understand the potential of technology and start to build computing skills for the future. We develop our pupils to become digital creators and to use technology to support other areas of their work and lives as well as developing an understanding of how the digital world can have an impact on their time, relationships and wellbeing. Our computing curriculum is structured in discrete units which teach key computing skills and equip our pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Through our school awareness days such as 'Safer Internet Day' we teach the pupils to become responsible digital citizens. They develop a strong understanding of how to stay safe and keep others safe online, their responsibilities when using the internet and how what they share creates their own digital footprint.

Core Values

The Catton Grove core values are at the heart of our school curriculum. Our computing curriculum strives to develop resilient, creative and independent learners. It promotes the awareness that the digital world is ever changing and we teach our pupils the importance of being ambitious and adventurous in their computing lessons and encourage that what they produce can always be edited, developed and improved to prepare them for the modern world. Our spiral curriculum means the themes are regularly revisited ensuring the pupils consolidate prior learning and deepen learning to give each pupil the wisdom of computing they require. Respect is at the centre of our curriculum, through teaching how to respect the technology they use and also how to be respectful through our
teaching of online safety. We teach our pupils to be grateful for the evolving technological world they live in and to take great pride in the computing achievements they have achieved, for example, our school digital leaders. We strive to ensure that our ambitious and inclusive curriculum unites all Catton Grove pupils ready for their future in the technological world.

SEND and inclusion

At Catton Grove Primary School, we ensure the design of our computing curriculum is accessible to all. The design of the lessons enables children to build on previous learning and gives opportunities for lessons to be scaffolded, such as visual prompts, practical adaptations and the use of learning partners, so that every child can succeed. The use of exploratory tasks allows pupils to have a deeper understanding of the concepts taught and encourages them to apply their learning in different contexts and make links with other learning experiences. Another way we ensure the computing curriculum is inclusive to all is through the use of a range of pedagogical strategies which make the computing topics more accessible. These include making real life links, unplug/unpick/repack, collaboration and modelling.

End of EYFS expectations

By the end of EYFS, a Catton Grove child will have had the opportunity to explore technology in a safe and often child-led way developing an understanding of the different technologies used both at home and school. They will have been introduced to some of the key vocabulary used in the computing world and will have been exposed to different equipment, (such as beebots, iPads, interactive whiteboards, listening to music and laptops) which will give them a secure starting place for the Key Stage 1 curriculum. Computing in EYS is through play based activities which enables the children to creatively investigate, problem solve and develop curiosity through exploration and communication.

End of KS1 expectations

By the end of KS1, a Catton Grove child will have been taught about different types of technology and how it improves our world in school and beyond. They will have been able to develop basic computer science skills to create and debug programs using logical reasoning alongside designing algorithms. Pupils will have an understanding and range of information technology skills and will be able to locate and handle information from a range of digital sources. They will also be aware of how to keep themselves safe online and how to respond to inappropriate contact and content.

End of Lower KS2 expectations

By the end of LKS2, a Catton Grove child will have built on their understanding of computing systems and networks to learn how computers connect and can have multiple connections. They will also learn about the functions of the internet, how to use the online world and the opportunities it offers to communicate and collaborate. Pupils will also have been able to further develop their programming skills to create a sequence of music, learn how to edit and develop coding to follow certain events and actions, creating programs through planning, modifying and testing commands. They will also explore how to modify existing programs and then apply their learning to design and create their own game. Pupils will have also extended their knowledge and understanding of how to keep themselves safe online, how to be respectful and recognise acceptable and unacceptable behaviours and how to report any concerns they have.

End of KS2 expectations

By the end of UKS2, a Catton Grove child will have built a secure knowledge of how to create,
manipulate and debug programs and to solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. Pupils will have a secure understanding of the role of algorithms and use logical reasoning to explain how they work. They will have developed a range of skills to be able to select, using a variety or combinations of software of different digital devices and to create a range of programs, systems and content that achieve set commands including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting information on a range of devices for specific purposes. Pupils will have developed a secure understanding of how to keep themselves safe online including identity and password security, identifying inappropriate and inaccurate content and being aware of cyber-bullying and how to respond to it. They will have also been able have a sound knowledge of how to be a positive and responsible member of the online community.