Computing
At St. Aloysius, we are rapidly expanding our computing and I.T provision because we aim for the children to be immersed in the use of technology for most lessons.
At St Aloysius, 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. We want our children to be creators and innovators not just mere consumers of digital content. The idea of the children as digital creators is what underpins our planning and computing units. Our children are taught using the Knowsley Curriculum for computing which has been carefully designed and coherently sequenced to prepare children to become digital citizens of the future.
Alongside this, the children also gain excellent insight into online safety and an awareness of their digital footprint through the use of computing lessons and Jigsaw (PHSE) lessons.
Curriculum Design and Progression
Our children are taught using the Knowsley Curriculum for computing. This is a carefully sequenced computing curriculum that allows children to build on prior knowledge and skills whilst building for future projects.
Our Computing units and progression model is broken down into four strands that make up our computing curriculum.
These are: Essential Skills, Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy.
Essential Skills: ensure the children have the core basic skills to use multiple devices, this is designed to promote independence.
Computer Science: underlines the knowledge and skills relating to computational thinking, coding, algorithms and networks.
Information Technology: underlines the knowledge and skills relating to digital communication, creating multimedia content and data representation/handling.
Digital Literacy: underlines the knowledge and skills relating to online safety and technology in society.
We participate in annual events such as national Computing week, Safer Internet Day, anti-bullying week and technology themed competitions. We, as teachers, model the use of technology in lessons and are always aiming to further enhance our own skill set so we can use it in school.
See separate document for the long-term computing plan.
Documents
Assessment and Monitoring
Teachers assess children at the end of each unit through end points. Children take a pre unit quiz before commencing a unit of work and upon completing a unit of work, they take a post unit quiz. 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.
CLC Days
At St. Aloysius, we avail of the support and expertise of Knowsley CLC. They work across the UK to support schools, academies, teachers and learners of all ages and our children love these opportunities to improve their computing skills. Knowsley CLC have considerable experience in delivering ICT led lessons in school at EYFS, KS1 and KS2. During these sessions, the activities are designed in collaboration with the class teacher and link to the theme in class so it is fitting with the children’s learning.
Technology across the curriculum
We use iPads on a regular basis to help with fluency of our timetables and number bonds. The children all have a TT Rockstar or Numbots account and have access to this at home and in school.
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 complete a pledge to show their understanding on how to behaving safely online. 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.
