Intent
At Beulah Junior School, we aim to prepare our learners for their future by giving them the opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills that will equip them for an ever-changing digital world. Knowledge and understanding of technology and computing is of increasing importance for children’s future both at home and for employment.
Our Computing curriculum, Purple Mash, focuses on a progression of skills in digital literacy, computer science, information technology and online safety to ensure that children become competent in safely using, as well as understanding, technology. These strands are revisited repeatedly through a range of themes during children’s time in school to ensure the learning is embedded and skills are successfully developed.
Our intention is that Computing also supports children’s creativity and cross-curricular learning to engage children and enrich their experiences in school.
Implementation
Our whole curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. We teach the National Curriculum, through units in the Purple Mash scheme of learning which sets out clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that these are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. All children are taught the computing curriculum for an hour weekly and also use a range of devices (eg mini-laptops and tablets) at other times to enhance their learning.
To ensure a broad range of skills and understanding, Computing is taught across three main strands: digital literacy, computer science and information technology.
As part of information technology, children learn to use and express themselves and develop their ideas through technology, for example writing and presenting in Word and Powerpoint as well as exploring art and design using multimedia and music through mixing and looping. Within digital literacy, children develop practical skills in the safe use of communication technology and the ability to apply their skills to solving relevant, worthwhile problems; for example, understanding safe use of internet, networks and email. In computer science we teach children to understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation through units on coding, spreadsheets and databases. We also teach then to analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing and de-bugging computer programs in order to solve such problems. We also teach a progression of Computing vocabulary to support children in their understanding. At Beulah Junior School, we give children access to a wide range of good quality resources and provide cross curricular opportunities for children to apply their Computing knowledge and skills.
Online safety is taught within many Computing lessons as a part of the starter activity as well as being taught as a stand-alone unit each year. The ‘SMART’ rules (SAFE, MEET, ACCEPTING, RELIABLE and TELL) are taught in all year groups and reinforced in assemblies. Online safety procedures are also communicated with all staff and parents.
Extending learning
Pupils can also extend their learning at home using the many programmes and tools within Purple Mash. There is also the facility for them to share their work and give feedback to each other using display boards.
Useful websites
Purple Mash:
https://www.purplemash.com
2014 ICT National Curriculum - National curriculum in England: computing programmes of study
