Our Vision for Computing
“A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world.” DFE
Computing is a fundamental part of our teaching and learning at Ropery Walk. Our computing curriculum provides our pupils with:
- the ability to use and apply a variety of computing skills
- a wide knowledge of the different areas of computing
- the confidence to safely and responsibly use technology in an ever-changing digital world.
Children in KS1 and KS2 follow an adapted spiral curriculum based on the Teach Computing scheme supported by the National Centre for Computing Education and STEM Learning. As children move through the year groups, they will continue to build and develop on prior knowledge and skills from previous years’ teaching across 4 key areas: Computing Systems and Networks, Creating Media, Programming and Data and Information. Across some of these units, children will use physical computing kits such as Microbits as well as using ipads and laptops so as to ensure children access more than one type of digital device during their learning.
In EYFS, children are taught the basics of how to become ‘Computational Thinkers’ through a variety of practical activities that have our children tackle a range of concepts using different approaches.
In addition to this, we have a bespoke online safety curriculum that ensures progress from EYFS to Year 6. It allows us to equip our pupils from an early age with the basics of how to keep themselves safe online before widening their understanding of a wider range of issues as they progress through the school. Also, to keep in line with the rapid changes in technology, we take the views of staff, parents and pupils in the form of questionnaires, letters and events. This feedback is used to help us adapt our computing curriculum to support the ever changing needs of our children.
Long Term Plans
You can view or download our Computing Long Term Plans by clicking the links below:
Whole School Online Safety Long Term Plan
| Key Stage 1 Curriculum Aims | Key Stage 2 Curriculum Aims |
| Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions | Design, write, and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts |
| Create and debug simple programs | Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output |
| Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs | Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work, and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs |
| Communicate safely and respectfully online, keeping personal information private; recognise common uses of information technology beyond school | Understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for creative communication and collaboration |
| Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content | Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked and be discerning in evaluating digital content |
| Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; know where to go to for help and support when they have concerns about material on the internet | Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting information, communicating and collaborating effectively |
| Recognise common uses of information technology beyond school | Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; know a range of ways to report concerns and inappropriate behaviour |
More information about the skills taught can be found here.
Technology at Ropery Walk
At Ropery Walk we understand that technology is an ever-increasing part of every day life for our children at Ropery Walk and that children have access to a range of devices from early in their lives. This is reflected across the school curriculum, where each child has responsibility for their own individual iPad from KS1 through to the end of KS2.
Computing takes a cross-curricular approach at Ropery Walk as the children use a variety of apps and websites to support their learning across core and foundation subjects such as Showbie, Times Table Rockstars, Lexia and Reading Plus.
