Early Years Foundation Stage
For our very youngest learners in the foundation stage we aim to give children a broad, play-based experience of computing in a range of contexts, including outdoor play. Computing is not just about computers. Early years learning environments feature computing scenarios based on experience in the real world, such as in role play. Children gain confidence, control and language skills through opportunities to ‘paint’ on the whiteboard or using maths programmes to explore and develop positional language. Children use the iPads to develop their photography skills and begin developing their coding skills using the beebots.
Key Stage 1 & 2
All children have a discrete computing lesson each week which focuses on teaching online safety in parallel to developing essential computing skills. Across their primary schooling all children will learn how to use key programmes such as Word, Publisher, Excel and a number of coding programmes. The aim is to develop pupils word processing skills, teach elements of animation and how to use, collect, develop and manipulate electronic data. During coding lessons, pupils work at varying levels from creating simple one step codes moving into more complex sequences which are used to create their own online games. Pupils also learn how to de-bug codes and learn how to manipulate games by changing different elements of the background programme.
Children are taught how to be SMART online ast is crucial children learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with a critical awareness of their own and other’s online behaviour and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online. Within each computing lesson and across the curriculum we focus on ways we can equip the children for a digital life.
We focus eight different aspects of online education:
- Self-image and Identity
- Online relationships
- Online reputation
- Online bullying
- Managing online information
- Health, wellbeing and lifestyle
- Privacy and security
- Copyright and ownership
Children are taught to be confident digital citizens, who are discerning about what they read online and who want to contribute positively to the ever changing digital world. Children use Google Classroom and Seesaw to share their work with their teacher and parents which provides a safe environment to develop online skills.
Digital Leaders
The digital leaders represent children in each class in the school. They promote online safety among their peers and meet regularly to talk about projects they’d like to run in the school. They also write weekly online safety tips that are shared in our weekly newsletter to help keep our community well informed and safe online.
