Intent

Technology is becoming an everyday part of life. At Newton Primary School, we hope to prepare our children for a future in an environment which is shaped by technology. Therefore, we want to model and educate our children on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely.  We aim to encourage our pupils to be creators not consumers and our curriculum encompassing computer science, information technology and digital literacy reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that with technology comes choices, as a school we want to model and support these positive choices and highlight the risks that may possibly come by making incorrect ones.

We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible for all children. We want children to become fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding. We want children to feel comfortable and confident with using and exploring these tools independently by the time they reach Upper Key Stage 2.

Implementation

Teach Computing

At Newton Primary School, our scheme of work for computing is the ‘Teach Computing’ Curriculum and covers all aspects of the National Curriculum. This scheme was chosen as it has been created by subject experts and based on the latest pedagogical research. It provides an innovative progression framework where computing content (concepts, knowledge, skills and objectives) has been organized into interconnected networks called learning graphs.

We have also introduced the use of Seesaw throughout school and children use this app to evidence their work by uploading it to a Computing folder.

Project Evolve – Digital Literacy and Online Safety

A key part of the computing curriculum is ensuring that children are accessing technology safely and responsibly. Children have a right to enjoy childhood online, to access safe online spaces and to benefit from all the opportunities that a connected world can bring them, appropriate to their age and stage.

Children develop this awareness and responsibility through the use of the ‘Project Evolve – Education for a Connected World’ framework. The framework aims to support and broaden the provision of online safety education, so that it is empowering, builds confidence and creates a positive online environment.

Computing is taught every week, across KS1 and KS2 in addition to a weekly session on online safety and regular assemblies discussing elements of online safety. Online safety is also taught within Jigsaw lessons.

Impact

We encourage our children to enjoy and value the curriculum we deliver. We want children to discuss, reflect and appreciate the impact computing has on their learning, development and well-being. The quality of children’s learning is evident on Seesaw, a digital platform where pupils can share and evaluate their own work, as well as their peers. Much of the subject-specific knowledge developed from our computing curriculum equip pupils with experiences which will benefit them in secondary school, further education and future workplaces. We want children to be confident using technology, but also recognise the impact and implications it can have if used inappropriately.

E-Safety support for parents and staff

All of these sites have activities, resources and information to help your children to stay safe online and with digital technology. 

Please note that although these sites are safe, there may be links on them that may lead away from them and to potentially undesirable sites. Please exercise care, as always.

Thinkuknow – This is the first place to look for online resources and activities to help children stay safe online.

Safety Centre - Guides on how to stay safe on the most popular platforms

Netware is a parents’ guide to the social networks children and young people use. Stay up to date and keep your child safe in today’s digital world.

Kidsmart – Childnet International’s Kidsmart website has a section for children under 11 dealing with a huge range of safety issues including file-sharing, mobile phones, social networking, digital footprints, net nasties and safe surfing.

Hector’s World is part of the Thinkuknow site and is particularly suitable for younger children

CEOP’s Thinkuknow Cybercafe for Key Stage 2 pupils. It sets out to develop a set of safe behaviours for children to use when using digital technology

CBBC Stay Safe - Safe Surfing Guide

BBC Online Safety

Bullying UK - a site for parents, teachers and children with extensive advice on how to deal with Cyber Bullying

ParentInfo - A guide to keeping your child safe on Minecraft

CyberQuoll - A site for children aged 8-12 developed by NetAlert –Australia’s Internet Safety Advisory Body

Cybersmart Kids Online – Another Australian site providing resources and information on ‘smart net surfing for kids and their grownups.’

Hectors World – NZ A site that has a lot of advice and information. It also has ‘Hector safety button’ for children to use online if they find something upsetting.

iKeepSafe is an American online safety site – the home of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition.

PhoneBrain is a website for older children and teens. It’s provided by PhonePay Plus the phone-paid service regulator) It covers four key areas – mobile, landline, TV and PC.