At Trinity Road Primary School, we view computing as a fundamental component of the curriculum. Our overall aim is to equip children with the necessary computing skills to ensure they become digitally literate. Our curriculum is designed to support pupils to be safe online, express themselves and develop their ideas creatively through information and computer technology– at a level appropriate for the future workplace and as active contributors in a digital world.
Computing is taught through three main strands: computer science, information technology and digital literacy. As part of the computer science strand, pupils are taught how to be computational thinkers through the reading, predicting and creating of code. In KS1, pupils begin with picture-based coding. In lower KS2, pupils use block-based coding which then progresses to text-based coding in upper KS2. After building on this knowledge, pupils are able to create their own coding programme in the Summer term.
At our school, pupils are introduced to a wide range of technology. This includes: desktop computers within our ICT suite, iPads , Microbits and interactive whiteboards which allows pupils to continually practise and improve the skills they learn. In an ever-changing digital world, it is important that pupils are taught the skills to help them make a positive contribution by managing the digital footprint they are creating. For this to happen, they need to understand how to behave appropriately and make sensible choices online. We have recently introduced the Google Be Internet Legends Code to our Online Safety curriculum to help our pupils become safe, confident explorers of the world.