At Meadowside Primary School, we provide an exciting, rich, relevant and challenging computing curriculum for all pupils through Purple Mash that encompasses computer science, information technology and digital literacy. We understand the immense value technology plays not only in supporting the computing curriculum but the whole school curriculum and the overall day-to-day life of our school. The computing scheme of work supports our teachers in delivering fun and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all pupils to achieve to their full potential.

Intent

At Meadowside we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We want our pupils to be masters of technology and believe it can provide; enhanced collaborative learning opportunities, better engagement of pupils, easier access to rich content and can support the needs of all our pupils. Our aim is to enthuse and equip children with the capability to use technology for the next stage of their education and beyond.

At Meadowside we recognise that technology can allow pupils to share their learning in creative ways. We also understand the accessibility opportunities technology can provide for our pupils. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their knowledge creatively using technology, which will in turn help our pupils become skilful computer scientists. We encourage staff to try and embed computing across the whole curriculum to make learning creative and accessible.

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of Computing at Meadowside is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and the National Curriculum.

Foundation stage pupils will be taught:

• How to complete a simple programme on a computer
• To use ICT hardware to interact with age-appropriate software

Key Stage 1 pupils will be taught:

• To understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
• To create and debug simple programs
• To use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
• To use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
• How to recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
• To use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.

Key Stage 2 pupils will be taught:

• How to design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
• To use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
• To use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
• To understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
• To use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
• How to select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
• To use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.

Impact

Finding the right balance with technology is key to an effective education and a healthy life-style. We feel the way we implement computing at Meadowside helps children realise the need for the right balance and one they can continue to build on throughout their lives.

Purple Mash

Purple Mash is an educational website for children, used by thousands of schools. Purple Mash is a cross-curricular resource covering art to science and all subjects in between. We follow a computing scheme of work on Purple Mash for Years 1-6. As well as using it in school, your child can access Purple Mash from home on a laptop, desktop or a tablet.

To access Purple Mash visit www.rmunify.com

Your child’s login details are stuck in their reading diaries. Remember to add @meadowsideprimary.org to their username

e.g.

Once logged in, click on the Purple Mash tile.