"Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, or you just want to pursue a career in the 21st century, basic computer programming is an essential skill to learn."

Stephen Hawking

Intent

At Lydney C of E Primary School, we follow the Kapow scheme of work for our Computing lessons.   Kapow Primary’s Computing scheme aims to instil a sense of enjoyment around using technology.  The scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of Key Stage Attainment targets outlined in the National curriculum and the aims align with those in the National curriculum.  We use SCARF, as our PSHE scheme, which also covers online safety alongside the digital literacy strand of this scheme of work.  The online safety we teach is based on the DfE’s Education for a Connected World framework. This guidance was created to help equip children for life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, copyright issues, being discerning consumers of online information and healthy use of technology.

Underpinning our Computing curriculum are our Christian values: trust, friendship, respect, forgiveness, courage and truthfulness and curriculum drivers.

The lessons we teach have an intention of providing a high-quality, coherent and progressive experience of the subject, with scope for cross-curricular learning.

Implementation

The National curriculum purpose of study states: ‘The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems, and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world’. Therefore, the curriculum is designed with three strands which run throughout:

• Computer science
• Information Technology
• Digital Literacy

The implementation of Kapow Primary Computing ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements, and ‘Skills showcase’ units provide pupils with the opportunity to learn and apply transferable skills. Teachers will cover the objectives stated in each Computing lesson but may change the lesson theme to fit with their topic. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

Impact

The impact can be constantly monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives and each unit has a unit quiz and knowledge catcher which can be used at the start and/ or end of the unit. After the implementation of the Computing curriculum, pupils should leave Lydney C of E equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and be active participants in the ever-increasing digital world. The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Computing scheme of work is that children will:

• Be critical thinkers and able to understand how to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.
•  Understand the importance that computing will have going forward in both their educational and working life and in their social and personal futures.
• Understand how to balance time spent on technology and time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.
•  Understand that technology helps to showcase their ideas and creativity. They will know that different types of software and hardware can help them achieve a broad variety of artistic and practical aims.
• Show a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National curriculum - computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
• Be able to use technology both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
• Be aware of online safety issues and protocols and be able to deal with any problems in a responsible and appropriate manner.
• Have an awareness of developments in technology and have an idea of how current technologies work and relate to one another.
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Computing.

Teachers will record end of unit judgements on our school tracking system Insight.