Computing at Saltburn Primary School
At Saltburn Primary School, we recognise that technology is constantly changing and is a part of everyday life in a rapidly developing world. There is a focus on the progression of skills necessary to be build life skills whether this is directly using a computer or not. Children will be demonstrating computational thinking skills to solve problems, be resilient and think creatively as well as developing an understanding in the way computing is used to support learning across the entire curriculum. Not only will our children at Saltburn Primary become confident with digital literacy but offer compassion and a mature manner for online safety. Our children will gain a wide breath of experiences that enables them to become the best digital citizens possible
Aims
Through robust teaching practices, we aim to develop core areas for our children as they engage in the study of computing with creativity and ambition:
Resilience
Every child develops an attitude where failure is a step-in learning that provides an opportunity to learn and try again.
| Computational thinker
In providing exploration opportunities children identify patterns, important aspects, reasoning and ways to break down information to solve problems and develop a variety of approaches.
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Collaboration
Team work based on collaboration, clear communication and listening. Children are interactive and engrossed in a range of experiences developing important life skills. | Creativity
By building a skill set that is embedded in children’s learning, children are allowed to express themselves through their application of resources. |
Computing skills
Through directed and guided sessions children develop a range of skill sets that can be transferred to a range of technology to develop learning. | Digital Citizenship
By learning the relationship of the digital and the real world working as one unit together to develop respect and tolerance towards everyone. |
Local context
Saltburn is a place of diversity and community. A community spirit is reflected in the environment but also has a presence remotely. We believe the area provides an opportunity to use the local and wider community to provide our children with a range of experiences to use their skills and develop them further. Links are made within the community to talk about how a range of technology can be used to support businesses, events and life. We aim to provide an opportunity for all our children to be able to access a range of hardware, resources and skill set to flourish.
The landscapes surrounding Saltburn and the local area have often been a backdrop for tv, film and productions. Film crews bring crowds of people to observe the production needs that go into making a large film for example Atonement filmed on Redcar Beech, reality television ‘The Mighty Redcar’ and TV productions of Dark Angel and Something Special. These opportunities lead children to see the behind the scenes needs to inspire their own creations.
Museums and establishments likes Kirkleatham museum and Captain Cook’s Museum are using the power of zoom and digital devices to bring re-enactments and learning directly into the classroom.
Digital art, through photography captures the essence of the local environment. These images are used by children to replicate and explore through cross curriculum links in art, history and design technology. Freelance photographer Ian Forsyth is based in Saltburn often produced digital images as a freelancer but his work also appears in websites, news and political features. Cal Carey, another local photographer often captures local industries and people. He is well known in the local galleries for creating images of their artwork for websites.
Community links can be gathers through sharing of events with schools and Teesside University. These provide children with a range of different expertise and experiences to meet people of different trades and be inspired by the carers they can undertake in the future.
How will we enrich cultural capital?
We recognise that, while all children equally deserve the very best start in life, not all children receive the same opportunities as their peers around the country. Levels of disadvantage fluctuate from one school or class to another, and these differences can affect a child’s life chances in so many ways. We believe that it is our duty to enrich the lives of all children wherever possible to diminish this difference. Below are some of the opportunities our children access:
- Working alongside companies to develop awareness of careers
- Trips to Cummins factory in Darlington. Previously this trip has been supported by the Enthuse Partnership. This enables girls from Y5/6 to visit the factory on International Women in Engineering to promote opportunities for women
- Visitors from Cubin and Cummins, who run coding workshops and weekly code club sessions within school
- During STEM week, engineers with come into school to discuss their roles. Previously, these have included careers such as an audiologist and engineering. Inviting people to discuss their occupation allows opportunities to break down barriers in gender, disability and ethnicity.
- Providing code clubs and activities in school for children to experiences a range of technology through iPads, microbits, computers and programmable toys
- Enabling resources to be shared to support the continuous learning from school to home
- Celebrating event to raise awareness of computing needs for example Online Safety Day and International Women in Engineering Day
- Online safety is also an integral part of anti-bullying week within Saltburn
Progression from EYFS
Computing skills and concepts start with our youngest children when they enter our Early Years stages. Computing statements are not directly stated within the Early Year curriculum but there is an expectation that strands of computing are used to complete other curriculum areas, with an ownership of a purposeful environment that incorporates computing.
Within Nursery and Reception, children are encouraged to use technology within a mixture of independent and directed tasks. By allowing the children access to digital device through their everyday activities, it enables the children to make purposeful and direct links that prepare them for the structures sessions as they enter Key Stage One.
Within role play experiences, digital devices will be carefully selected to incorporate and reflect a range of real life experiences. These are the stepping stones to understanding information technology, understanding digital devices, input and output links and using technology safely. An example of how this works includes the introductions of telephones, mobiles, cameras, remotes within home role play areas and even computers, metal detectors, magnifying tools within a space station.
The class screens are used as a direct and indirect tool for teaching computing. A variety of programmes are used to develop children’s understanding of a concept through programmes that use simple input and output reactions. This enables children to develop cross curricular understanding as well as computing skills. Teachers will also use the screens to demonstrate how to use the internet safely whilst looking at maps, search engines and a range of digital media. Through discussions about how these are used, children begin to develop an understanding of this media and how it can be used, ready for more independent work within Key Stage One.
During the summer term, Reception children are given the opportunity to explore beebots and programmable toys. This exploratory play enables children to make simple links and help develop computing concepts which are to be detailed further below. These experiences are beneficial for developing coding skills as well as understanding and following instructions.
The National Curriculum
Our Computing Curriculum
Useful Links
Below is a list on the websites that are used to support learning within school through our different curriculum aspects.
