Dubmire Primary Academy

Computing.

Subject Lead - Mr Fisher

Welcome to our exciting world of Computing! At Dubmire, we believe that technology plays a vital role in shaping the future and therefore strive to make Computing an enjoyable and accessible subject for all students. Our dedicated Computing Curriculum aims to equip our pupils with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital age.

Intent

At Dubmire, we want our children to recognise the importance and impact of Computing in the world around them and be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to make sure they are future ready, and adaptable, due to the increasing and ever-evolving role Computing and technology plays in everyday life and the workplace. When developing computational thinking skills, we want our children to think logically; problem solve in a range of contexts; break more complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps; evaluate and adapt ideas where necessary. We also want pupils to be in a position to challenge the ideas of others: this could be work by their peers on a task in a lesson or evaluating information they find on the Internet. We recognise that technology is forever changing and want pupils to be able make use of the most appropriate tools or applications for completing a task effectively and efficiently. Where appropriate, we want children to be able to use Computing skills and knowledge to aid learning in other areas of the curriculum and to enhance other areas of school life. Children will be provided with opportunities to apply skills and knowledge outside of school when completing homework or projects; and using technology in their everyday lives. Opportunities will also be provided for pupils to witness and observe the role of Computing in real-life situations beyond the classroom. Equipping our children to be ‘Safe Cyber Citizens’ is a core aim of our Computing Curriculum. The Online-safety strand of the curriculum is designed to address previous issues in school, locality and beyond. To ensure this remains relevant, the Online-safety strand is reviewed and updated to address any changes e.g. social media, new technology, AI etc... Through collaboration, problem-solving, and independent thinking, we aim for all of our students to develop a strong foundation in Computing that will serve them well in the future. 

Implementation

Through regular CPD, staff are supported and equipped with knowledge and skills to ensure fun, progressive and purposeful units of study are taught allowing children opportunities to design, challenge, apply, innovate, evaluate and adapt. Units of work are planned to ensure previous skills and knowledge is routinely recapped, revisited and built upon whilst ensuring children are prepared for future learning. Where possible, they are implemented with a clear and relatable context in mind for example Year 1 pupils using their digital literacy skills to write a postcard to Barnaby Bear; Year 3 children exploring how technology could have made the lives of miners safer and easier; and Year 6 pupils producing music for the end of school disco using Sonic Pi. 

Computing lessons happen weekly and are designed to be practical with children being able to engage with on screen technology such as Scratch, Adobe Express, and Microsoft Office; physical computing technology including Coding Critters, BeeBots, iPads, Crumbles, Microbits; and unplugged resources such as those produced by Barefoot Computing and provided as part of the Teach Computing Curriculum. Lessons are vocabulary rich – key vocabulary is shared, displayed and used (by teacher and pupils) throughout lessons. Key vocabulary is frequently revisited to aid retention.

In Early Years, our pupils are introduced to the basics of coding, problem-solving, and computational thinking through engaging and interactive activities. Children are supported to explore concepts using a range of resources including Coding Critters and Sphero Indi robots in preparation for Key Stage 1. In addition, children begin to learn and develop digital literacy and information technology skills and knowledge which will enable them to use technology safely, effectively, in a variety of ways and with different purposes in mind as they progress through Key Stage 1.

As pupils move through school, they develop knowledge and skills around 5 key areas of learning: Computing systems and networks, Creating media, Data and Information, Programming and Online Safety. Children develop skills, knowledge and understanding of how things work, through use of a vast array of hardware, software and applications. They are subsequently provided with opportunities to apply and develop their skills and knowledge in a variety of fun and engaging ways for example

• developing dance moves in Year 1 as a method for understanding algorithms;
• coding Beebot and eArL floor robots in Year 1 and 2 followed by building and programming robots and other machinery in Key Stage 2 including the use of Crumble controllers;
• using software such as Scratch and Logo to create games, musical instruments and quizzes incorporating new and previously learned skills of sequencing, selection, repetition and use of variables.
• producing and modifying images for example photograph and video editing as well as the creation 3D images in Year 6;
• producing music with a variety of purposes in mind;
• collecting and presenting data and information in a variety of forms such of postcards, presentations, graphs, and webpages in Year 6 to support fellow Year 6 pupils in the lead up to SATs, using software and hardware such as J2E, Microsoft Office, Adode Express, Microbits. 

Learning is documented through the use of floorbooks to demonstrate the children’s journey. Class floor books are used in EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Year 3 until Summer Term. Whereas individual floor books, in the form of a PowerPoint document, have been introduced to allow children in KS2 to document their own learning with greater independence. Where appropriate and necessary, children's work is also saved in individual folders on a shared drive meaning it can be easily accessed in future lessons.

Children's successful application and retention of skills and knowledge is assessed in a variety of ways including evaluation of a final product produced; through discussion between teacher and pupils; and through the use of summative assessment tasks such as quizzes.

In today's digital age, it is crucial to educate ourselves and our pupils about the importance of online safety. Our Computing Curriculum is designed to incorporate designated sessions, within each unit of work, where strands from Project Evolve are covered. This allows us to provide children with knowledge and skills surrounding the areas of Self-Image and Identity; Online Relationships; Online Reputations; Online Bullying; Managing Online Information; Heath, Well-being and Lifestyle; Privacy and Security; and Copyright and Ownership.

Further opportunities for enhancing the pupil’s knowledge and understanding of what is needed to stay safe online safety come through PSHCE lessons, Safer Internet Day and Anti-bullying week.

We endeavour to ensure students will become responsible digital citizens, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the online world safely. Key information is shared beyond the classroom using school website and social media including National Online Safety updates.

More information on staying safe online can be found on our Online Safety webpage.

Through collaboration with other schools in Aim High Academy Trust, children are provided with opportunities to apply their skills and knowledge during events such as the Aim High Academy Trust Stem Day. In Summer 2023, and Spring 2024 Computing and Design Technology leads from across the Trust, planned and facilitated a Stem event based around the theme of Ice Creams. Small groups of children, from the three schools in the Academy Trust as well as pupils from Easington Lane Primary School, used their design and technology skills to plan and construct an ice-cream van from a range of materials. In addition, a further group of children used their coding skills to create, test and debug an algorithm using Crumble controllers to enable their group’s ice-cream van to travel between the four schools to deliver ice creams in the quickest time. For more photographs and videos, follow this link Aim High Academy Trust - Aim High Stem Event 2024.

Impact

Our children are able to make links and apply knowledge and skills in a range of contexts. Progression is evident across KS1 and KS2 and this is supported by the role played by EYFS in preparing children for Key Stage 1. Children are becoming more confident with using of a variety of equipment and applications. Pupil voice summary, as well as the interesting in after school Stem opportunities, shows Computing remains an extremely popular subject across both key stage 1 and 2. Pupil voice shows that children feel increasingly confident with how to deal appropriately with issues arising around online-safety. Children have been given the opportunity to apply learning both in and out of the classroom.