Computing and Online Safety

Intent

To provide exciting opportunities that encourage our children to use a range of technology effectively for a variety of purposes and to develop their knowledge of the ever changing digital world. We aim to promote positive online and offline behaviours, which educate children in being safe, respectful and considerate online citizens.

The Importance of Computing

A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science, and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Primary National Curriculum England 2014

Aims

The National Curriculum 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.

Grove Vale Primary aims to:

provide children with a range of skills, knowledge and experience essential to our daily lives.
ensure children learn and develop skills, which are fundamental and transferable by providing opportunities that equip for their future lives and involving technology and the digital world.
Compliment and enhance children's learning by encouraging and planning the use of technology and use of computing skills within a variety of lessons across the curriculum. Offering children opportunities to further explore the digital world, embed learning and provide opportunities to demonstrate their independence.
Use a wide range of technology to provide opportunities for children to develop computing skills, further their knowledge of devices and software and to make choices based on their learning.
encourage and provide opportunities for children to apply digital literacy skills, where they find, create, evaluate and communicate information.
strive to ensure children are confident, active and safe digital citizens of our world both in school and at home through the teaching and continuous discussion of online safety.
support pupil's to develop and apply appropriate and computational vocabulary.

Implementing

At Grove Vale, we follow a long term plan, which covers all aspects of Computing and Online Safety. The year-on-year plan follows the National Curriculum requirements and has been designed to incorporate a range of programmes such as software provided by Purple Mash, a range of applications, Microsoft/Apple software, etc. In addition to the Computing year-on-year plan, we also follow one designed to cover all areas of Online safety. This provides focused opportunities to learn about specific elements of online safety however additional discussions allow it to permeate throughout computing and through the use of technology within other areas of the curriculum and within school. Our team of Online Safety Champions also enhance the profile of online safety within our school.