At Newlands, we understand the importance of computer literacy in the ever-developing world of technology. We aim to provide all children with a range of learning experiences that give them skills that they can use in their everyday lives. Through a curriculum that builds on their previous learning, children are able to demonstrate their creativity, build both data handling and programming skills whilst being introduced to up-to-date computing systems and technology. E-safety is an integral part of children’s learning and is covered in all year groups in both computing and PSHE lessons.

How we deliver our curriculum

Using Kapow Primary to guide teacher’s planning, our computing curriculum is broken into five key areas of learning: Computing Systems and Networks, Programming, Data Handling, Creating Media and E-safety.

Lessons are broken into four key sections. Lessons begin with a short recap and recall where children are given time to talk through previous lessons or unit’s learning and address any misconceptions that have arisen. Following this, an attention grabber is used to inspire and excite the class with discussion about a new idea or key question. The main input of each lesson usually involves building on key skills with a hands-on activity, where children build on ideas, demonstrate their creativity or research a topic. At the end of each computing lesson, children are invited to share their work with the class and engage in plenary questions about their learning.

Computing is embedded across the school within other subjects as well as stand-alone subject-specific lessons to ensure a variety of opportunities to develop pupil skills.

How we support everyone to learn

At Newlands, our Computing lessons are made accessible for all learners through a curriculum that is adapted by class teachers to suit the specific needs of each class. Adapted technology includes coloured screen overlays, text-to-speech features, larger keyboards and individual laptops for specific students are used to allow all children to learn.

Through each topic, skills are built up over time and all children are given opportunities to revise and practise skills each week. Each lesson has opportunities for activities to be adapted to suit the needs of the class and teachers are given examples of ways to do this through the Kapow Primary website.

Whilst a large number of lessons involve hands-on access to technology, woven into the curriculum are opportunities for children to develop their understanding with drama, drawing and building tasks. These reduce the need for continued focus on a screen and allow learners with limited knowledge of technology to engage more readily.