The use of computers and computer systems is an integral part of the National Curriculum and knowing how they work is a key life skill. In an increasingly digital world there now exists a wealth of software, tools and technologies that can be used to communicate, collaborate, express ideas and create digital content. At Wellfield Junior School we recognise that pupils are entitled to a broad and balanced computing education with a structured, progressive, approach to the learning how computer systems work, the use of IT and the skills necessary to become digitally literate and participate fully in the modern world. 

Intent

Wellfield Junior School’s intentions are to:

• Provide a broad, comprehensive balanced, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for all pupils which builds logically upon the EYFS and KS1 curriculum.
• Develop pupil’s computational thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
• Meet the requirements of the national curriculum programmes of study for Computing at Key Stage 2.
• Equip pupils with the confidence and skills to use digital tools and technologies throughout their lives.
• Enhance and enrich learning in other areas of the curriculum using IT and computing.
• To develop the understanding of how to use computers and digital tools safely and responsibly.
• To help children be in control of their technology and not enslaved by it.  We want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We want our pupils to be creators not just consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology. We recognise that the best prevention for a lot of negative issues we currently see with technology/social media is through education.

 Implementation

 Wellfield Junior School uses the ‘Teach Computing Curriculum,’ as:

• The resources include lesson plans, slides, activity sheets, and assessments
• Each key stage has a comprehensive teacher guide and curriculum map so all teachers have everything they need to teach computing comprehensively
• It is built around an innovative progression framework where computing content has been organised into interconnected networks called learning graphs
• It has been created by subject experts, using the latest pedagogical research and teacher feedback
• It is designed in a way that allows pupils to transfer key knowledge to long-term memory; it is sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and towards defined end points.

The curriculum is arranged through vertical concepts which run through all year groups. These are:

• Computer Networks & Systems   (Referred to as Digital Literacy in EYFS & KS1)
• Creating Media  (referred to as Information Technology in EYFS & KS1)
• Data & Information  (referred to as Information Technology in EYFS and KS1)
• Programming (referred to as Computer Science in EYFS and KS1)

This curriculum also ensures that:

•  Teachers have expert knowledge of the subjects they teach
• Teachers present key concepts clearly and invite appropriate discussions
• Teachers check pupils’ understanding effectively, identifying and correcting misunderstandings
•  Teachers ensure that pupils embed key concepts in their long-term memory and apply them fluently
•  Teachers enable pupils to transfer key knowledge to long-term memory, sequence the learning and ensure that it is building towards the defined end points
• Teachers use assessment to check pupils’ understanding
•  Teachers use assessment to help pupils embed and use knowledge fluently, develop their understanding, and not simply memorise disconnected facts. These core principles are cornerstones of the school’s continuing success.
• Teachers explicitly include agreed tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary in lessons.

These principles are linked to our teaching and learning policy, 'The Wellfield Way'. Wellfield Junior School believes that the Teach Computing Curriculum helps achieve these aims and adhere to those principles as it is built around small steps, sometimes looking at analogue versions of computing concepts to help children embed new concepts and knowledge. It also revisits the different curriculum areas frequently and is designed to have a very logical progression to help children build on prior knowledge.