Subject Lead: Mr Saunders 

The Primary National Curriculum for computing is split into three strands: information technology, digital literacy and computer science.

• Computer science helps children of all ages to understand how computers and networks work.  It gives all children the opportunity to experience basic computer programmes and understand the logic of computer language. This might include using simple floor robots in Year 1, right up to creating on-screen computer games and understanding the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web by Year 6.
• Information technology is about building practical computing skills, such as collecting and presenting information using a variety of different devices and applications, to effectively using search engines on the World Wide Web, and discerning what is useful, truthful and what is not.
• Digital literacy is about the safe and responsible use of technology, including recognising the advantages and disadvantages for collaboration and communication and what to do when they encounter something upsetting or harmful online.

At Holtspur, we intend to prepare our children to be confident, capable and digitally literate within a world that is increasingly heavily shaped by technology. We highly value the ability of children to able to apply the computing skills they have learnt in everyday situations.

We ensure that the children have access to a range of hardware and software that enhances their learning across all curriculum subjects, and that Computing skills and language is embedded in other curriculum subjects as a necessity.

We ensure our children are taught the importance of safe Internet use.  In every year group, e-safety is a key focus and lessons include regular teaching of e-safety to ensure that children feel confident when using computers and the Internet, and know what to do if they come across something either inappropriate or uncomfortable.

At Holtspur, we use Purple Mash as the basis of our weekly Computing lessons. The curriculum objectives are divided into different units of work that overlap and connect to each other as the year progresses. No curriculum content statement is taught once. Most year groups will do approximately the same units at the same time, with the exception of Year 1, who follow a slightly different unit base.

Our ambition for all our children by the end of Year 6, is for them to leave Holtspur confidently on the path towards being outstanding ‘Digital Citizens’. This means that they have an understanding of what it means to be an excellent computer user, fluent in programming and networking language, and understand that they have a responsibility to themselves and each other for the digital footprint that they leave behind when using all forms of technology.