Subject Leader
Hi there,
My name is Mr Wall and I am the leader of Computing at Laycock.
I believe that the Laycock Computing Curriculum provides students with the computer literacy skills they need to navigate life in the 21st century. Laycock students are interacting with computers and computing technology every day, both inside and outside school and therefore require an understanding of how computers work and the impacts they have on society. It is crucial that students learn students to engage with technology in a safe and meaningful way that will improve their own and others’ lives.
Intent
At Laycock, we believe all learning experiences should prepare our students for life in the 21st century and we recognise that computers and computing technology are increasingly becoming a part of our every day lives. As such, Laycock’s Computing curriculum has been designed to prepare students for a rapidly changing world in which being digitally literate is crucial to understanding, experiencing and manipulating a broad range of work, leisure and social experiences.
By integrating computing into our every day routines, students at Laycock will be taught and encouraged to embrace digital literacy and utilise technology in a safe and responsible way. Computing will be used to challenge students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and place them in situations where they are required to adapt and show resilience. For our diverse student population, especially those within our deaf provision, the use of technology will increase the opportunities students have in accessing their learning and demonstrating knowledge and understanding in unique and creative ways.
We believe that technology has the ability to enrich all learning experiences across the entire curriculum and we endeavour to integrate into our daily routines. We believe that the integration of technology into our learning spaces will not only spark curiosity amongst our pupils, but will also provide them with the tools and skills they need to become independent learners. Technology in the learning space removes any of the barriers that classroom walls traditionally present and allows for an endless amount of opportunity for pupils to engage with and explore knowledge and understanding about their world and beyond.
In dedicated Computing lessons, pupils will be taught to understand computing systems and how they work, in order for them to practice skills of computer programming. Pupils will be taught how to safely access and use technology such that they are able to evaluate its effectiveness and use it to analytically solve problems. Pupils will also be taught how technology can be used to express creativity and communicate ideas in a plethora of different ways, whilst understanding the impacts that these different means of presenting information have.
What do we teach?
Implementation
The computing curriculum at Laycock will be delivered through a variety of means.
In Nursery and Reception students will be exposed to computational thinking and reasoning skills in cross-curricular activities which focus on communication, language and understanding the world. Learning in these years is context-based and uses a variety of hands-on resources.
From Year 1 we use Purple Mash as the primary tool in delivering our computing curriculum and addressing the National Curriculum. Purple Mash is an exciting platform that hosts a mixture of computing and curriculum focused activities, tools, programs and games to support and inspire creative learning. As Purple Mash is an online platform is presents Laycock children with the opportunity to continue their learning anywhere and at any time. Purple Mash uses the National Curriculum as the reference point for all learning to ensure that all students can explore and gain understanding of computer science and information technologies. They will develop knowledge and skills that allow them to be digitally literate as active citizens.
Each year students will begin by acknowledging their responsibilities to act safely and responsibly as digital citizens in an ‘Online Safety Unit’, after which learning will cover a wide range of topics covering computer science, information technology and digital literacy.
For each unit of work within our computing curriculum students will be provided with a Knowledge Organiser and Key Vocabulary. These will be used in every lesson to support and assist learning and to provide visual support for students when accessing our computing resources.
Each lesson is structured carefully using Aims and Success Criteria. This promotes independence in students learning and allows students to understand what is required of them throughout the lesson.
Students are also supported through the use of student friendly ‘I Can’ Statement checklists that directly relate to unit and lesson aims and criteria. These documents also allow teachers to monitor students’ progress and assess learning. All work can be stored digitally or printed and kept in students Curriculum books.
Within any lesson students will have the opportunity to participate in unplugged (offline) activities and online activities delivered through Purple Mash.
Unplugged Activities allow the students to continue learning within the computing curriculum without the need for internet or device access. Each activity can strengthen students understandings of the concepts being taught and allows greater opportunity for students to problem solve collaboratively.
Vocabulary
Progression from Year 1 to 6
