Computing
At St Louis Catholic Primary School, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever changing digital world. We want to model and educate them on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. Knowledge and understanding of ICT is of increasing importance for children’s future both at home and for employment. Our Computing curriculum focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed. Our intention is that Computing supports children’s creativity, allowing them to share their learning in creative ways, as well as providing cross curricular learning, to engage children and enrich their experiences in school.
We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. To ensure a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught across three main strands: digital literacy, computer science and information technology. We ensure that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. We begin with basic skills including mouse skills, keyboard, typing skills and logging on and off of a device properly. We then move on to simple computing programs, allowing children to embed their skills, before navigating the programs more independently. Children also learn to express themselves and develop their ideas through ICT by providing children with the opportunity to explore. We teach children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation. We also analyse problems to computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems. At St Louis, we cover a progression of Computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding and we also give children access to a wide range of resources. We provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills. Online safety is taught within each Computing lesson as a short starter activity as well as being taught as a unit each year. Children develop their practical skills in the safe use of ICT, as well as apply these skills to solving problems. For example, understanding safe use of internet, networks and email. Online safety procedures are communicated with all staff and parents.
More details on our Computing Curriculum (Please click the links below to access the documents)
