At Guillemont Junior School we believe it is essential for all children to develop their creativity and curiosity. We want children to be digitally literate in a world where technology is always advancing and we want the children to be ready for the future. Computing at Guillemont gives children opportunities to remember and retrieve previous learning to enable them to fully access the curriculum. Computing allows the children to become logical thinkers and problem solvers by embedding Computational Thinking skills throughout the subject. We aim to give children opportunities to explore key areas of Computing, including decomposing problems, creating and writing their own algorithms and assess the effectiveness of their learning through debugging their work and evaluating its success. Through the teaching of Computing, we want children to apply these skills to their programming. We also want to enable children to make safe choices when using technology and empower others to be responsible for the choices they make This gives children the opportunity to remember and retrieve previous learning to support them in the curriculum.
An essential element is ensuring that staff are up-skilled and confident in delivering effective and purposeful Computing lessons. In order to ensure this, workshops will take place throughout the year to increase staff confidence.
At Guillemont Junior School Computing is timetabled weekly in the curriculum as subject specific lessons. When appropriate computing skills are also practised through cross-curricular opportunities. The children have access to Chromebooks, iPads and other hardware (e.g. Probots). This enables the curriculum to be taught in context where appropriate, demonstrating a clear progression of skills throughout their journey. Flexible grouping is used in order to meet children’s needs and paired programming following the PRIMM approach.
Computing at Guillemont is divided up into four key areas:
Computer Science
At Guillemont, we aim to cover Computer Science across two-thirds of the academic year. This element allows children to develop their thinking skills and gives them opportunities to use key vocabulary associated to computing. Research suggests that in order for children to be able to write and create their own code, they need to be able to read code: predicting, running, investigating, modifying and making (The PRIMM approach). We believe that children have opportunities to develop their own computer programs through the use of Scratch or Micro:Bits. We also teach key concepts ‘unplugged’ and children have opportunities to apply this understanding.
IT – Technology and Networks
Children are introduced to the World Wide Web and are given opportunities to develop their understanding of the Internet. They develop research skills and explore how networks work. This is taught based on the progression of skills throughout key stage 2.
Digital Literacy
As a school, we subscribe to GSuite, which allows the children to develop their digital literacy in a range of ways. We aim to teach children basic skills that can be applied in a variety of contexts. Children at Guillemont explore word processing, spreadsheet/database design and slideshow creation through Google Apps. When appropriate, this is covered through cross-curricular opportunities and during Project Based Learning (e.g. Art / D&T). In order to support children with SEND within the school, accessibility options are used for example, simplifying usernames and using text-to-speech facilities.
Online Safety
Online Safety is a key strength of the school. All children are encouraged to act safely online. We follow the Project Evolve scheme of work. Each half term, a start of unit assessment takes place and then lessons are taught to target particular needs of individual classes. This takes place in both Computing and SCARF lessons. The school has trained Cyber Ambassadors who communicate key messages and support their peers. We find different ways to encourage parental awareness of this key area of Computing including Online Safety updates in the bi-weekly school newsletter, our School Website and through presentations. Any online safety incidences are reported through CPOMs and dealt with either by senior leaders or class teachers.
In order for all to succeed we allow higher attainers to enhance their skills in lessons, applying their understanding in a different way and enable the first 20% opportunities to catch-up and given further support through teacher guidance, use of catch-up cards and
Widgit Online symbols. All these support children in order to reduce cognitive load where appropriate.
Subject schemes of work, particularly in Computer Science, shows clear progression throughout school so that children build on prior-knowledge and understanding. Children experience a broad and balanced Computing curriculum. Pupils are able to articulate their learning during lessons and are able to demonstrate their knowledge by self-assessing their work. Examples of work show that children’s knowledge and understanding has been built upon. Evidence from whole school learning walks demonstrate that children are able to verbalise how they remain safe when on technology. Individual incidents involving Online Safety are dealt with appropriately and in a time-effective manner and recorded on CPOMs.
