Computing Policy - St Peter's ...

Computing
       Policy

Adopted:            January 2019

Review date:        January 2021

Signed ________________________

Chair of Curriculum & Ethos

Introduction

The use of information and communication technology is an essential part of the
National Curriculum and is a key skill that is becoming increasingly more important in
everyday life. Computers, tablets, programmable robots, digital and video cameras
are just a selection of the tools that can be used to organise, store, manipulate,
interpret, communicate and present information. At St. Peter’s, we recognise that
pupils are entitled to quality hardware and software and a structured and progressive
approach to the learning of the skills needed to enable them to use these devices
effectively. The purpose of this policy is to state how the school intends to make this
provision.

Aims

      Provide a board, relevant, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for
       Computing for all pupils.
      Meet the requirements of the National Curriculum programmes of study for
       Computing.
      Use Computing as a tool to enhance learning throughout the curriculum.
      To equip pupils with the confidence and capability to use computing
       throughout their later life.
      Using Computing, enhance learning in other areas of the curriculum.
      Help all children to evaluate the benefits of Computing and its impact on
       society.
      To develop the understanding of how to use Computing safely and
       responsibly.

The National Curriculum for Computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

      Can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of
       computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data
       representation
      Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical
       experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
      Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar
       technologies, analytically to solve problems
      Are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and
       communication technology.

Rationale

At St. Peter’s we believe that Computing:

      Gives pupils immediate access to a rich source of materials.
      Can present information in new ways which help pupils understand, access
       and use it more readily.
      Can motivate and enthuse pupils.
      Can help pupils focus and concentrate.
      Offers potential for effective collaborative working.
      Has the flexibility to meet the individual needs and abilities of each pupil.

   Can broaden and strengthen understanding for pupils.
      Enables children to take ownership of their own learning.

Curriculum Planning

Digital Learning is embedded throughout the school. Each subject curriculum will
highlight how, when and where technology is used effectively and appropriately
within the lesson. Additionally, Computing lessons will be taught in the Computer
Room to support the programming curriculum.

National Curriculum Objectives

Early Years

Computing is not just about computers. Early years learning environments should
feature computing scenarios based on experience in the real world, such as in role
play. Children gain confidence, control and language skills through opportunities to
‘paint’ on the whiteboard or program a toy. Recording devices can support children
to develop their communication skills. This is particular useful with children who have
English as an additional language.

By the end of Key Stage 1 pupils should be taught to:

      Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on
       digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and
       unambiguous instructions
      Create and debug simple programs
      Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
      Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and
       retrieve digital content recognise common uses of information technology
       beyond school
      Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private;
       identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about
       content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

By the end of Key Stage 2 pupils should be taught to:

      Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including
       controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing
       them into smaller parts
      Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and
       various forms of input and output
      Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to
       detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
      Understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide
       multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they
       offer for communication and collaboration
      Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and
       ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
      Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on
       a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems

and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing,
       evaluating and presenting data and information
      Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise
       acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report
       concerns about content and contact.

Digital Learning

Each classroom from Reception to Year 6 has an Interactive White Board and
visualiser. Each year group should also have access to a digital camera. Children will
work on several different Computing programmes when in the Computer Room.

The Technology

The school acknowledges the need continually to maintain, update and develop its
resources and to make progress towards a consistent, compatible PC system by
investing in resources that will effectively deliver the strands of the National Curriculum
and support the use of computing across the school. Teachers and support staff are
required to record any faults as soon as they are noticed. Resources, if not classroom
based, are located in the Computer Room.

Computing network infrastructure and equipment has been sited so that

      Every classroom from Reception to Year 6 has a laptop connected to the
       school network and an interactive whiteboard with audio visual facilities
       allowing the teacher to deliver the lesson, but also allowing interactivity for
       the children.
      Every classroom has a visualiser linked to an Interactive White Board to display
       real-time images of moving or still objects.
      Teachers and support staff use SMART Notebook to create, deliver and
       manage interactive lesson activities. This program is also an aid to teacher
       planning.
      There is a Computer Room where each class from Year 1 to Year 6 has an
       allocated slot across the week for teaching of specific computing skills.
      The Computer Room is available for use throughout the school day as part of
       computing lessons and for cross-curricular use.
      Pupils may use computing independently, in pairs, alongside a TA or in a
       group with a teacher.

Technician

The school employs a qualified technician. He is responsible for installation of new
software, maintenance of hardware and offers support to staff where difficulties arise.
The technician is in school a day every week to offer support.

Planning

Curriculum Leaders have incorporated Digital Learning into their curriculum grids and
medium term plans. As the school develops its resources and expertise to deliver the
computing curriculum, modules will be incorporated and planned in line with the
National Curriculum and will allow for clear progression. Modules will be designed to

enable pupils to achieve stated objectives. Pupil progress towards these objectives
will be recorded by teachers as part of their class recording system. Staff will follow
medium term plans with objectives set out in the National Curriculum and use the
same format for their weekly planning sheet.

We recognise that all classes have children with widely differing computing abilities.
This is especially true when some children have access to equipment at home, while
others do not. We provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching
the challenge of the task to the ability and experience of the child.

We achieve this in a variety of ways, by

      Setting common tasks which are open-ended and can have a variety of
       responses.
      Setting tasks of increasing difficulty (not all children complete all tasks).
      Grouping children by ability in the room and setting different tasks for each
       ability group.
      Providing resources of different complexity that are matched to the ability of
       the child.
      Using classroom assistants to support the work of individual children or groups
       of children.

Teaching and Learning Style

In order to maximise the application of Computing in the classroom it is integrated
across the curriculum, Computing is woven into the other subject areas of the school
curriculum. This ensures that technology is used innovatively to extend the
educational opportunities for the pupils to ensure greater accessibility to the subject
material and studied to greater quality and depth. In order to achieve this we:

      Plan Computing as an integral part of each curriculum area
      Use of the SMART Notebook and PowerPoint to deliver lessons
      Ensure that curriculum leaders, teachers and support staff are able to
       integrate the Computing objectives into the schemes of work for other
       subjects
      Ensure that staff can choose the appropriate technology to support and
       extend learning within other subjects
      Ensure that teachers and support staff are able to identify and assess the
       Computing objectives within the lesson
      Teach discrete Computing skills within the context of work drawn from other
       subjects.

As the aims of computing are to equip children with the skills necessary to use
technology to become independent learners, the teaching style that we adopt is as
active and practical as possible. While at times we do give children direct instruction
on how to use hardware or software, the main emphasis of our teaching in Computing
is for individuals or groups of children to use computers to help them in whatever they
are trying to study. So, for example, children might research a history topic through
the Internet using a bank of reliable, age appropriate websites previously explored by
the teacher. We encourage the children to explore ways in which the use of
Computing can improve their results, for example, how a piece of writing can be

edited or how the presentation of a piece of work can be improved by using their
knowledge of the software to make appropriate changes e.g. making the text bigger.

The Learning Environment

Classrooms display should reflect the Computing carried out in the class and activities
completed at home to support Home Learning. Children’s Computing work should be
printed for display.

Inclusion

At St. Peter’s, we plan to provide for all pupils to achieve, including boys and girls,
higher achieving pupils, gifted and talented pupils, those with SEN, pupils with
disabilities, pupils from all social and cultural backgrounds, children who are in care
and those subject to safeguarding, pupils from different ethnic groups and those from
diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Special Educational Needs and Disability

The characteristics of Computing are such that it offers important opportunities for
children who have SEND in other aspects of the school curriculum. All children are
included in Computing activities. Children with SEND in one particular subject may not
necessarily have these same needs in Computing. However, it is important that all
children are able to access the Computing opportunities and curriculum. Those with
difficulties in English or maths must be given opportunity to reach their full potential in
Computing.

This is achieved through:

      Children being presented with differentiated tasks and resources
      By varying degrees of support
      Teachers planning open-ended tasks to allow for differentiated outcomes
      The learning process being broken up into manageable steps
      Regular and robust assessment procedures being used to inform next
       steps/identify difficulties
      Children being given opportunities to become independent learners and be
       able to increase their self-esteem.
      Children to work collaboratively utilising the possibility of technology.

Academically More Able Pupils

Computing offers opportunities to extend children with above average ability and
those who may be seen as having special talents, both in Computing and in other
areas of the school curriculum. Within Computing children who are Academically
More Able are given every opportunity to extend their learning and reach their
potential.

This is achieved by:

      Presenting children with tasks that have sufficient and rigorous challenge
      Planning open ended tasks which allow children to extend their learning

    Supporting children who are Academically More Able throughout the
        curriculum by giving opportunities for personal research and individual learning
        programmes using the Internet and other Computing resources.

Cross Curricular Links

Computing contributes to teaching and learning in all curriculum areas. For example,
graphics work links in closely with work in art, and work using databases supports work
in maths, while the Internet proves very useful for research in humanities subjects.
Computing enables children to present their information and conclusions in the most
appropriate way.

English

Computing is a major contributor to the teaching of English. Through the development
of keyboard skills and the use of computers, children learn how to edit and revise text.
They learn how to improve the presentation of their work by using desktop publishing
software. There is in addition a variety of software and online resources which targets
specific reading, grammar and spelling skills. Children will have the opportunity to
record their written work in both audio and video formats, providing them with a real
purpose and audience for the poetry, play scripts and other writing. Children will be
provided with the opportunity to develop their reading skills through Bug Club.

Maths

Many Computing activities build upon the mathematical skills of the children. Children
use computing in mathematics to collect data, make predictions, analyse results, and
present information graphically. They also acquire measuring techniques involving
positive and negative numbers, and including decimal places. Programmable robots
allow pupils to give exact instructions for a particular route. Through Abacus, there are
numerous teaching resources to support whole class input including videos, visual
aids, interactive activities, whole group activities and games. This is also supported by
the use of Abacus Online for Home Learning.

Science

Children can present science results using data handling programmes. They can use
their knowledge, for example of healthy diets, in producing posters and leaflets on
desk-top publishing programmes. Children can use digital cameras to record
observations, both in video and still formats.

Other Subjects

Computing can be used in other areas as a place for research, for example finding
country facts in geography or information about Henry VIII’s wives. Pictures, maps and
diagrams can also be found. In P.E. digital cameras can record dance routines or
gymnastic sequences or take stills of balances showing good quality and control.
Presentational software and storytelling software can be used to present information,
record events, ideas and information. Photograph and image software can be used
in Art to manipulate images for particular effects. Painting and drawing programmes
can be used to create art and animations can be made using Video software. In

music audio recording and manipulation packages can be employed to record, edit,
adjust and play children’s compositions.

SMSC and Citizenship

Computing makes a contribution to the teaching of SMSC and citizenship as children
learn to work together in a collaborative manner. They develop a sense of global
citizenship by using the Internet and email. Through the discussion of moral issues
related to electronic communication, children develop a view about the use and
misuse, and they also gain a knowledge and understanding of the interdependence
of people around the world.

Health and Safety and Safeguarding

The school is aware of the health and safety issues involved in children’s use of
computing. All electrical appliances in school are tested accordingly. It is advised that
staff should not bring their own electrical equipment in to school but if unavoidable,
then the equipment must be PAT tested before being used in school. This also applies
to any equipment brought in to school by, for example, people running workshops,
activities, etc. and it is the responsibility of the member of staff organising the
workshop, etc. to advise those people. All staff should visually check electrical
equipment before they use it and take any damaged equipment out of use.
Damaged equipment should then be reported to the ICT technician or Head Teacher
who will arrange for repair or disposal.

Monitoring and Reviewing

The monitoring of the standards of the children’s work and of the quality of teaching
in computing is the responsibility of the subject leader. The subject leader is also
responsible for supporting colleagues in the teaching of computing, for keeping
informed about current developments in the subject and for providing a strategic
lead and direction for the subject in the school. The subject leader gives the head
teacher an annual summary report in which s/he evaluates the strengths and
weaknesses in the subject and indicates areas for further improvement. The subject
leader has specially allocated time for carrying out the vital task of reviewing samples
of the children’s work and for visiting classes to observe the teaching.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the E-Safety & Acceptable Use Policy –
July 2016.