Computing
At Saint Joseph's, the Borough, children develop skills necessary to become digitally literate and to communicate safely and to collaborate and create digital content.
We prepare children for a rapidly changing world through the use of technology. Our high-quality Computing curriculum is designed to enable children to use computational thinking and creativity to further understand our world. We see the use of Information Technology as enhancing and extending the children’s learning across the whole curriculum. We believe by increasing children’s confidence in Computing, they will develop problem-solving skills, initiative, and independent learning. With a focus on digital literacy, children are able to make informed decisions about the use of technology at home and at school, both now and in the future. We aim to ensure that pupils become digitally literate, able to express themselves and develop their ideas through Information and Communication Technology for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world in the 21st century.
Our Computing curriculum is designed around the four key areas outlined in the National Curriculum; computer science, information technology, digital literacy and online safety. The combination of these areas equips our children with the ability to safely and confidently use different hardware and software. The children begin their journey with technology in Early Years, with access to iPads and BeeBots, as well desktops in the classroom. Teachers facilitate children’s curiosity with challenging tasks and model how to use the equipment carefully and safely. At Saint Joseph’s, we have sessions weekly for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and cover areas such as communication, programming and creativity. Each half term has a different focus with progressively more complex contexts and outcomes. We use 'Teach Computing' as the basis of our lessons.
Key Stage One
In Key Stage 1 children continue their journey with the BeeBots, manipulating them more precisely. They learn how to programme a BeeBot to reach a destination and begin to debug when commands do not work out the way they had planned. Using laptops, they improve their mouse control and learn how to log on and off a computer using their own username and password. They learn about online safety and what to do if they encounter something which makes them feel uncomfortable, what personal information is and why it is important we don’t share it with someone on the internet.
Key Stage Two
In Key Stage 2, coding becomes more intricate and basic games are developed using online languages. Digital literacy skills are combined with English, RE, Science and Humanities and work is word processed and presentations made using MS Word or MS PowerPoint. Online safety sessions play a far greater role as the older pupils are exposed to a wider range of social media applications. Teachers are also encouraged to find opportunities to introduce famous computer scientists and inventors.
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