Computing at Hunts Cross Primary School

Computing Subject Advisor – Miss Moore

My name is Miss Moore and I teach at Hunts Cross Primary School, alongside being the Subject Advisor for Computing. Computing at Hunts Cross is exciting and challenging. I work closely with Mrs. Medikhani (@MGLWorld_Kerri) who is a specialist teacher of computing and programming. She works with myself, staff and pupils to ensure we are all experiencing new and emerging technologies.

I have detailed the intentions of Computing at school below, how we implement our intentions and the impacts this will have on our pupils.

Thank you for visiting the Computing Faculty Page.

Intent statement for Computing

The intent of the curriculum at Hunts Cross Primary School is to ensure children are able to function competently, safely and creatively in all areas of technology. We intend, as practitioners, to be well equipped to support our pupils during their time at Hunts Cross with a quality curriculum that is challenging, interesting and relevant to the world around them ensuring progression throughout.

To enable our pupils to experience, enjoy and learn from new technology at Hunts Cross Primary School, our intentions are:

• To present computing as creative fascinating process in which children are encouraged to use their own initiative, imagination, reasoning, investigation skills and independent learning;
• That children appreciate the relevance of computing in our society and regard it as an essential tool for learning, communication, finding information and for controlling and understanding their environment;
• That children receive equal opportunity  to develop their computational capability, with the use of computing being planned for in line with its status as a core National Curriculum subject;
• We intend that children learn to work individually and collaboratively and that they are aware of the need for safety when using the internet;
• Our intention is that children can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation;
• We intend for children to analyse problems in computational terms, and apply their digital literacy skills in a range of technology-based activities.

Implementation and Planning

Computing at Hunts Cross Primary School has been divided into three areas: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy (which includes E-Safety). The aims and intentions of the Programmes of Study, issued by the Department of Education, have been categorised into these three main areas, applicable to key Stage 1 & 2.

The school utilises fantastic resources to implement our teaching and learning intentions from Purple Mash, MGL, Scratch and bespoke schemes of work.  To implement our work on E-Safety, we have adopted Project Evolve by SWGfL Internet Safety scheme.

In Computing and Information and Communication Technology, as with all subjects, we implement teaching and learning using a variety of while class, individual and group work, direct teaching, pupil investigation and skills practice. Staff confidence and expertise in the understanding and implementation of the curriculum has been developed by employing a specialist teacher for MGL World (a Liverpool-based computing educational specialist company). Staff consult regularly with the specialist teacher to develop the teaching and learning intentions along with the most effective implementation methods for each term, alongside the Computing Subject Advisor. Termly assessments of pupils taught are made and progression is monitored.

To ensure implementation of the curriculum, all classes are timetables in the ICT suite, and teachers can request additional time when cross-curricular links present themselves. Teachers identify links with other areas of the curriculum wherever possible so that previously gained skills can be reinforced and applied in new contexts, as well as supporting learning in other areas. ICT time are listed on the weekly planning document.

In addition to the PCs in the ICT suite, there is a PC in each classroom and each teacher has their own i-Pad. All of these machines are linked to the school network. We also have 12 i-Pads to further enhance learning opportunities and implementation of the curriculum objectives in a variety of different settings.

Skills Progression in Digital Literacy

At Hunts Cross Primary School, we have adopted Purple Mash as our main scheme of work. This is to ensure continuity and progression. However, where necessary to create a breadth of experience in certain areas such as programming we use other methods of delivery and a bespoke scheme of work to tailor to the needs of the children.  This is to ensure challenge and progression is made.

Long Term Planning

Teachers use a range of Purple Mash, bespoke MGL plans and Project Evolve to plan and deliver the computing curriculum.   All of these resources have been downloaded and saved into a planning folder on the Teacher Share Drive. Medium term plans for each term detail what will be taught each week and teachers are free to annotate the scheme where necessary to support the delivery of each session. If cross-curricular work is planned, this is indicated on teachers’ weekly plans as appropriate. Also it is important to recognise that some aspects of traditional ICT are still required to be taught discreetly and should not be forgotten; in KS2, children should be taught to;” select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a arrange of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information”.

Impact Statement

We intend that that impact of the teaching and learning of ICT and Computing at Hunts Cross Primary School ensures children make progress and attain in-line with or better than national expectations. We strive to ensure that the children are given opportunities to achieve the greater depth standard whilst appropriately supporting those pupils working towards the expected standard.

We also hope that the impact of engaging, challenging, relevant and stimulating Computing experiences will develop a life-long love of technology and the immense possibilities it will hold in the future of our pupils’ lives.