Computing
Excellence, Inclusivity, Kindness, Curiosity, Music: Uniting Our Learning Community.
Intent
At Hackney New Primary School, our aim is to cultivate a generation of young learners who are proficient in computing and ICT skills, fostering innovation, creativity, and ethical responsibility from an early age. We are dedicated to promoting inclusivity, curiosity, and excellence for all. Our curriculum is designed to inspire excitement and inquisitiveness while enhancing understanding of the computing community's impact on our past, present, and future. Our curriculum instils a sense of enjoyment around using technology and to develop pupil’s appreciation of its capabilities and the opportunities technology offers to, create, manage, organise, and collaborate.
Hackney New Primary School is dedicated to delivering an enriched curriculum that encompasses all aspects of computing and ICT. Our goal is to equip children from Reception to Year 6 with the foundational skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to navigate and contribute to a technology-driven world. We are committed to inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that every child's unique needs and potential are recognised and supported. Our curriculum aims to ensure that all children are not only digitally competent and possess a range of transferable skills suited for the future workplace, but also that they become responsible online citizens.
Our curriculum ensures that pupils meet the end-of-key-stage attainment targets outlined in the National Curriculum, aligning with its aims. Additionally, our computing curriculum fulfils all objectives of the Department for Education's Education for a Connected World framework. This guidance is designed to prepare children for life in the digital world, including developing their understanding of appropriate online behaviour, copyright issues, discerning consumption of online information, and healthy technology use.
At Hackney New Primary School, we provide a broad and balanced computing curriculum that covers fundamental computing concepts such as Digital literacy, Computer Science and Information Literacy. We integrate computing and ICT across all subjects to enhance learning and foster interdisciplinary connections. Our goal is to create an innovative and engaging learning environment through diverse teaching methods, including hands-on activities with iPads, computers, and interactive whiteboards, as well as interactive lessons and project-based learning. We strive to make computing engaging and accessible for all children, encouraging creativity and innovation through exploration and experimentation with technology.
Computing is incorporated into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through play-based, unplugged activities designed to enhance children's listening skills, curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Children are provided opportunities to take photographs using devices, play games on the interactive whiteboard, use Bee Bots, and watch video clips. This child-led exploration of technology helps children become familiar with equipment and terminology, ensuring they have a strong foundation for the demands of Key Stage 1 computing.
At Hackney New Primary School, we proudly uphold the principles of a Rights Respecting School. Our computing curriculum aligns with and supports the Convention on the Rights of the Child, fostering the following key understandings:
Article 13: The right to freely share thoughts and ideas.
Article 14: The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Article 17: The right to access information.
Article 28: The right to education.
Article 31: The right to rest, play, and engage in cultural and artistic activities.
Implementation
Our comprehensive computing curriculum builds on prior knowledge and offers both support and challenge to children. Computing is integrated throughout the academic year, enabling children to achieve depth in their learning. Teachers receive essential knowledge and skills for each topic, with careful consideration given to ensure progression across topics for each year group. Pre-planned lessons are aligned with medium-term plans developed by the subject leader, ensuring a structured progression of knowledge and skills across the curriculum.
We provide advice on online safety to children and parents through newsletters and workshops. Each year group participates in online safety lessons, equipping children with the knowledge to stay safe when using technology. Where appropriate, meaningful connections are made between the computing curriculum and the broader curriculum.
Our goal is to embed computing within the entire school curriculum and seize every opportunity to enhance learning through technology. Elements of computing are integrated into the provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to ensure all children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that is done through tailored resources and support. Themes are planned throughout the year to embed and build upon computing skills and knowledge. Children with high levels of need receive a comprehensive curriculum linked to National Curriculum themes, with scaffolded learning tailored to their needs, ensuring they make good progress from their starting points.
Furthermore, our computing curriculum can meet the needs of children without access to technology at home through several strategies:
- After school programs: Offer after school programs that provide additional time for children to use school technology resources.
- Classroom Devices: Equip classrooms with a sufficient number of computers or iPads to allow children to work on computing projects during regular class time.
- Offline Resources: Develop offline materials and activities that children can use to practise computing skills without needing an internet connection.
- Tailored Lessons: Adapt lessons to ensure that all children, regardless of their home technology access, can participate and benefit from the curriculum.
- Supplemental Instruction: Provide additional instruction and support for children who may need extra help due to limited technology access at home.
- Focus on Core Concepts: Emphasise fundamental computing concepts that can be taught and practised with minimal technology, such as algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, and coding with physical objects or paper.
- Project-Based Learning: Implement project-based learning that allows children to work collaboratively and use school resources to complete their projects.
By implementing these strategies, the computing curriculum can guarantee that all children, regardless of their access to technology at home, have the opportunity to develop essential digital skills and thrive in a digital world.
Impact
Outcomes in books and Tapestry provide evidence of a comprehensive and balanced curriculum, showcasing the children's acquisition of key knowledge. Children demonstrate their understanding by applying learned concepts in end-of-unit quizzes and projects.
Progress in computing is demonstrated through the systematic review and monitoring of children’s work, ensuring skill development and knowledge acquisition. This is achieved by:
- Examining pupils' work over time to track skill and knowledge progression
- Observing children’s performance during lessons
- Engaging children in discussions about their understanding
- Assessing end-of-unit outcomes
- Identifying signs of autonomy, such as students being responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology
Our computing curriculum fosters personal development in creativity, independence, judgement, and self-reflection. This is evident when children confidently discuss and share their work. Pupils leave Hackney New equipped with a diverse skill set, prepared for success in their secondary education and active participation in the digital world. The anticipated outcomes of adhering to the computing curriculum include that children will:
- Develop critical thinking skills, enabling them to make informed and appropriate digital choices in the future.
- Recognise the significance of computing in their educational and professional lives, as well as its impact on their social and personal futures.
- Learn to balance their time spent on technology with time spent away from it in a healthy and appropriate manner.
- Appreciate how technology can showcase their ideas and creativity, understanding that various types of software and hardware can help them achieve a wide range of artistic and practical goals.
- Demonstrate a clear progression of technical skills across all areas of the National Curriculum, including computer science, information technology, and digital literacy.
- Use technology effectively, both individually and as part of a collaborative team.
- Be aware of online safety issues and protocols, and be capable of addressing any problems responsibly and appropriately.
- Stay informed about technological developments and understand how current technologies work and relate to one another.
- Meet the end-of-key-stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Computing.