Intent

At Field Lane, we want all our students to master computers. Technology is all around us and will play an essential part in our students' futures. We want them to become digital creators, using technology to support their work and lives, but also understand the responsibilities of being digital consumers on their time, relationships and wellbeing. We know the digital workplace is continuously evolving and want them to grow up wanting to be a part of this evolution. We want our students to be responsible users of computers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. It allows children to tackle complex problems and make mistakes and learn from them.

We teach our children to understand the challenges and problems digital technology can create. We teach them to become good digital citizens, to know how to stay safe and keep others safe online.

We embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding so that by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.

Implementation

At Field Lane, we use the Purple Mash long and medium term planning to teach our computing curriculum. This equips the students with the necessary computer science, information technology and digital literacy skills to thrive. Children complete computing units half-termly, but digital literacy is embedded in all subjects and is used on a daily basis to enhance and support the learning of other curriculum areas.

The school uses a suite of core applications linked to the scheme, which enable children to develop and progress their skills through-out school. 

Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.

Children have access to Chromebooks to support all areas of the curriculum. Strands of computing include:

We encourage children and staff to apply these skills to the whole curriculum. We have a regular open discussion with our children about the use of computers and how they can be used for the greater good.  

Teachers set high expectations for all pupils. They will use appropriate assessment to set ambitious targets and plan challenging work for all groups, including:

•   More able pupils
•   Pupils with low prior attainment
•   Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds
•   Pupils with SEN
•   Pupils with English as an additional language (EAL)

Teachers will plan lessons so that pupils with SEN and/or disabilities can study every subject, wherever possible, and ensure that there are no barriers to every pupil achieving.

Teachers use inclusive high quality teaching to meet the needs of all pupils through an adapted curriculum

Teachers will also take account of the needs of pupils whose first language is not English. 

Further information can be found in our statement of equality information and objectives, and in our SEN policy and information report.

Impact

At Field Lane we encourage children to enjoy and value what the digital world has to offer. We ask the why behind their learning and not just the how. Staff ensure that skills build on those that have been attained in previous years to consolidate them as the children move through school. Families at our school use technology responsibly, in line with the school’s acceptable use policies. Children understand how to be safe online.

We look for evidence of children’s understanding through the work that they produce and conversations we have.

The following link shows the progression of skills from Key Stage 1 through to Year 6. 

https://static.purplemash.com/mashcontent/applications/computing_lead_tool_kit/progression_of_skills_standard/Progression%20of%20Skill_Standard_Interactive%20Feb%2022.pdf