I think it’s fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we’ve ever created. They’re  tools of communication, they’re tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.

Bill Gates

Intent

Computing is the language of the future, used to support creativity, communication and progress. Whilst technology is ever-changing and developing at a tremendous rate, we want our pupils to have an understanding and grounding of how computing is a tool for their future, regardless of the area they choose to excel in. This is backed by our adoption of each unit beginning with ‘we are’. We aim for all pupils to become confident in their use to support their learning and understanding.

We have chosen to use the Kapow scheme for teaching mixed age classes computing at Baydon. The scheme of work fulfils the statutory requirements for computing outlined in the National Curriculum (2014) and,  in conjunction with our RSE & PSHE scheme, also covers the government’s Education for a Connected World 2020 edition framework.

The curriculum aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in the digital world of today and the future.

Areas of Study Rolling Curriculum Computing

The Five Key Areas

The National Curriculum can be broken down into 3 strands: computer science, information technology and digital literacy. From using these three strands the Kapow scheme categorises lessons into  five key areas, which are returned to each year, making it clear for pupils to see prior and future learning.

The five key areas are:

Computing systems and networks – Identifying hardware and using software, while exploring how computers communicate and connect to one another.

Programming – Understanding that a computer operates on algorithms, and learning how to write, adapt and debug code to instruct a computer to perform set tasks.

Creating media – Learning how to use various devices — record, capture and edit content such as videos, music, pictures and photographs.

Data handling – Ensuring that information is collected, recorded, stored, presented and analysed in a manner that is useful and can help to solve problems.

Online safety – Understanding the benefits and risks of being online — how to remain safe, keep personal information secure and recognising when to seek help in difficult situations.

A Spiral curriculum

Kapow Primary’s Computing scheme of work has been designed as a spiral curriculum with the following key
principles in mind:
✓ Cyclical: Pupils revisit the five key areas throughout KS1 and KS2.
✓ Increasing depth: Each time a key area is revisited, it is covered with greater complexity.
✓ Prior knowledge: Upon returning to each key area, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build on
previous foundations, rather than starting again.

Oracy in Computing

Learning through talk
We believe it’s crucial to provide pupils with opportunities for exploratory talk during their learning. This
involves thinking aloud, questioning, discussing, and collaboratively building ideas.
Learning to talk
Similarly, developing oracy skills is essential for pupils to express and articulate themselves effectively across various contexts and settings, including formal ones like public speaking, debates, and interviews.

Through using Kapow’s Computing curriculum, pupils have opportunities to develop their oracy skills by:
● Communicating and solving problems collaboratively in groups or pairs.
● Building on the ideas of others and using discussions to plan programming
projects.
● Articulating their thoughts, processes and reasoning (e.g. when
debugging).
● Explaining and justifying their decisions during problem-solving tasks.
● Presenting their final outcomes to an audience, enhancing their public
speaking skills.
● Evaluating the final outcomes of peers’ work.

Progression of Skills, Kapow Computing Curriclum Mixed Age

EYFS Links

Whilst the technology strand is no longer a specific area in the new EYFS framework (2021), having the opportunity to develop computing skills at an early age can foster interest and confidence in technology and give pupils an advantage going into KS1. At Baydon we have chosen to use EYFS units of the Kapow scheme over the year. EYFS lessons are a natural precursor to the Key Stage 1 computing lessons, are designed especially for Reception children and are play-based, hands-on and fun!

In foundation stage pupils will:

• Have daily access to a range of technology resources such as torches with switches, remote controlled cars, beebots, voice-recording toys, as well as class ipads and interactive whiteboards.
• Use a range of technology resources to support learning in other areas of the curriculum.
• Are taught how to use the resources for different purposes eg ipads to watch videos, play games, take photographs and listen to stories.