Computing

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Computing

at West Didsbury CE Primary School


Our curriculum aims to enable children to become “active participants in our increasingly digital society” (Royal Society, 2017).  Computing is part of our daily life within school and can therefore provide a wealth of learning opportunities and transferrable skills. These skills are taught explicitly within Computing lessons and are revisited and consolidated across other curriculum subjects. Through the study of Computing, children will be able to develop a wide range of fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding that will actually equip them to safely  navigate the digital world. 


Key Concepts

All learning from Reception to Year 6 is categorised within our 3 key concepts – Digital Literacy, Computer Science and Information Technology.

Digital Literacy

The National Centre for Computing Education defines literacy as the skills and knowledge required to be an effective, safe and discerning user of a range of computer systems' (Teach Computing, 2021). To embed this within our curriculum, from Early Years to Year 6 we study the same themes: health, wellbeing and lifestyle; self-image and identity; online relationships; online bullying; and managing online information. The content of these topics progresses each year and prior learning is revisited. Digital Literacy and e-safety is also reinforced through PSHE and assemblies.

Computer Science

Computer science covers knowledge of computers and computation, including concepts such as data, system architecture, algorithms and programming using block-based and text-based coding and children can see their coding come to life through Beebits, Micro:bit toys and drones. Opportunities for computational thinking are woven throughout the curriculum, principally in Computer Science.

Information Technology

Information technology focuses on how computers are used in different sectors and describes the methods used to create different 'digital artefacts'. These are created in a range of media including text, images, videos and audio. For text-based artefacts and presentations, we incorporate cross-curricular learning opportunities (for example the publication of a piece of writing or presenting research in a history lesson). We also have explicit IT lessons where children create videos, animations and audio, beginning in early Years and revisited through to Year 6.

 

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