"Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, or just want to pursue a career in the 21^st century, basic computer programming is an essential skill to learn.’

Stephen Hawking

Intent

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, we strive to embrace technology and to equip our children with the rapidly changing world where technology is paramount in all aspects of life. We want our children to leave our school with a good understanding about the world of technology which will help them with their future learning, being safe and responsible on line and during their leisure time.

Our curriculum teaches the following:

• Algorithms – Children will understand how these are implemented as programmes on digital devices. 
• Data (KS2) – find out how to use search technologies effectively and how results are selected.
• Digital Literacy- to understand how to use technology safely and respectfully keeping personal information private.
• Information Technology- how to use technology purposely to create, organise store, manipulate and retrieve digital content.
•  Programming – design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems.

We follow the National Curriculum for Computing and use STEM Learning resources to ensure skills are continuous, embedded and built upon.

Curriculum Overview

Implementation

Our computing curriculum is taught using the Great Teaching Toolkit, 2020. We endeavour to be consistent in our approach to create a supportive environment that is inclusive. We support all our pupils using adaptive teaching techniques, Voice 21 talk tactics and oracy sentence stems. We activate hard thinking through our thinking schools’ strategies and Q Matrix questioning to bring computing to life and develop a real sense of enquiry. At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we have a consistent recipe for teaching computing which follows Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction.

Recipe for Teaching at OLSS

Impact

The impact of our computing curriculum is measured through a variety of different strategies. Ongoing teacher assessment is used throughout lessons to inform teaching. Retrieval practice is used throughout each lesson to address gaps in pupils’ knowledge before moving on. This is done through using cumulative quiz questions in each unit that builds through the sequence of learning. Children also use vocabulary front covers to continually look back and reflect on previous learning, allowing them to remember more core vocabulary from the lessons.

Children’s learning is monitored by regular book scrutiny by the Computing Subject Leader in which constructive feedback is given to staff for future planning.  Computing is also monitored through learning walks and pupil voice.

All of this is used to inform further curriculum developments and provision. 

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, staff work closely together as a team to ensure children receive the best computing curriculum to allow them to develop a love of learning and equip them for the technological world that they have been born into.