Computing Curriculum Overview
Early Years
The teaching of computing at St Joseph’s begins in Reception. Children are able to explore and makes sense of the technology in their everyday lives and are given their first taste of computational thinking and coding.
Curriculum Design and Progression
At St Joseph’s, we aim to equip pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world by understanding the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Pupils will become equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content and become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology as active participants in a digital world.
The teaching of Computing is supported by Knowsley CLC, who provide a progressive scheme of work, resources and support from specialist teachers. Clear and well thought out sequences of learning with key assessment tasks ensure that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before. Discrete lessons are delivered with learning blocked to allow for clear progression in the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills, built on prior learning. Children are also given regular opportunities to apply learning and utilise IT skills across the curriculum.
Online Safety
Teaching our children to keep themselves safe online and when using technology is at the heart of our curriculum. Each year, all classes additional unit of Digital Literacy focusing on online safety based on KCCIS: ‘Education for a Connected World Framework.
This is further supplemented by work on eSafety and Cyberbullying that form part of our PSHE curriculum, as well as activities related to special events such as Safer Internet Day and Anti-Bullying Week.
Mastery of Key Concepts
Each year, children are taught three units of computing covering the strands: Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology.
Key concepts within these strands have been identified to ensure they are revisited, embedded and progressively developed in each year group.
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Digital Literacy |
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Computer Science |
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Information Technology |
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End Points
Each unit culminates with the children applying the knowledge and skills they have acquired and developed during this unit in an independent task or project.
Assessment and Monitoring
Teachers assess children at the end of each unit through end points. These assessments are used to check what children have learnt and remembered to ensure pupils have remembered what we intended them to learn.
End points are evidenced through a range of ways including activities in recorded in ebooks, and photos and videos uploaded to Seesaw (KS1/KS2) or Tapestry (EYFS).
