CHRISTIAN MALFORD C of E

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Computing Policy

Approved by: Local Board

Adopted:23rd November 2015

Due for review:November 2018

Computing Policy

Introduction

TheuseofcomputersandcomputersystemsisanintegralpartoftheNationalCurriculumandknowinghowtheyworkisakeylifeskill.Inanincreasinglydigitalworldtherenowexistsawealthofsoftware,toolsandtechnologiesthatcanbeusedtocommunicate,collaborate,expressideasandcreatedigitalcontent. At Christian Malford Schoolwerecognisethatpupilsareentitledtoabroadandbalancedcomputingeducationwithastructured,progressiveapproachtolearninghowcomputersystemswork,theuseofITandtheskillsnecessarytobecomedigitallyliterateandparticipatefullyinthemodernworld. Thepurposeofthispolicyistostatehowtheschoolintendstomakethisprovision.

Aims

TheSchool’saimsareto:

  • provideabroad, balanced,challengingandenjoyablecurriculumforallpupils
  • develop pupils’ computational thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives
  • meettherequirementsofthe NationalCurriculumprogrammes ofstudyforComputing at Key Stage 1 and 2.
  • respondtonewdevelopmentsintechnology
  • equippupilswiththeconfidenceandskillstousedigital tools and technologies throughout their lives
  • enhance and enrichlearninginotherareasofthecurriculumusingITandcomputing
  • developtheunderstandingofhowtousecomputersanddigitaltoolssafelyand responsibly.

TheNationalCurriculumfor Computingaimstoensurethatallpupils:

  • canunderstandandapplythefundamentalprinciplesofcomputerscience,includinglogic,algorithms,datarepresentation,andcommunication
  • cananalyseproblemsincomputationalterms,andhaverepeatedpracticalexperienceofwritingcomputerprogramsinordertosolvesuchproblems
  • canevaluateandapplyinformationtechnology,includingneworunfamiliartechnologies,analyticallyto solveproblems
  • areresponsible,competent,confidentandcreativeusersofinformationandcommunicationtechnology.

Rationale

TheSchoolbelievesthatIT, computer science and digital literacy:

  • are essential life skills necessary to fully participate in the modern digital world.
  • allow pupils to become creators of digital content rather than simply consumers of it
  • provideaccesstoarich and varied sourceofinformationandcontent
  • communicateandpresentinformationinnewways,whichhelpspupilsunderstand,accessanduseitmorereadily
  • canmotivateandenthusepupils
  • offeropportunitiesforcommunicationandcollaborationthroughgroupworkingbothinsideandoutsideofschool
  • havetheflexibilitytomeettheindividualneedsandabilitiesofeachpupil.

Objectives

EarlyYears(seealsoEarlyYearsPolicy)

Itisimportantinthe FoundationStagetogivepupilsabroad,play-basedexperienceofIT and computinginarangeofcontexts,including off-computer activities andoutdoorplay.

Computingisnotjustaboutcomputers. The EarlyYearslearningenvironmentsshouldfeatureITscenariosbasedonexperienceintherealworld,suchasinroleplay. Pupilsgainconfidence,controlandlanguageskillsthroughopportunitiessuch as ‘programming’ each other using directional language to find toys/objects,creating artwork using digital drawing tools and controlling programmable toys.

Outdoor exploration is an important aspect and using digital recording devices such as video recorders, cameras and microphones can support pupils in developing communication skills. This is particularly beneficial for pupils who have English as an additional language.

BytheendofKeyStage1pupilsshould have beentaughtto:

  • understandwhatalgorithmsare,howtheyareimplementedasprogramsondigitaldevices,andthatprogramsexecutebyfollowingasequenceofinstructions.
  • write anduse simple programs
  • uselogicalreasoningtopredictandcomputingthebehaviourofsimpleprograms
  • organise,store,manipulateandretrievedatainarangeofdigitalformats
  • communicatesafelyandrespectfullyonline,keepingpersonalinformationprivate,andrecognise commonusesofinformationtechnologybeyondschool.

Bytheendof KeyStage2pupilsshould have beentaughtto:

  • designandwriteprogramsthataccomplishspecificgoals,includingcontrollingorsimulatingphysicalsystems;solveproblemsbydecomposingthemintosmallerparts
  • usesequence,selection,andrepetitioninprograms;workwithvariablesandvariousformsofinputandoutput;generateappropriateinputsandpredictedoutputstotestprograms
  • uselogicalreasoningtoexplainhowasimplealgorithmworksandtodetectandcorrecterrorsinalgorithmsandprograms
  • understandcomputernetworksincludingtheinternet;howtheycanprovidemultipleservices,suchastheworld-wideweb;andtheopportunitiestheyofferforcommunicationandcollaboration
  • describehowinternetsearchengines findandstoredata;usesearchengineseffectively;bediscerninginevaluatingdigitalcontent;respectindividualsandintellectualproperty;usetechnologyresponsibly,securelyandsafely
  • select,useandcombineavarietyofsoftware(includinginternetservices)onarangeofdigitaldevicestoaccomplishgivengoals,includingcollecting,analysing,evaluatingandpresentingdataandinformation.

Resourcesandaccess

TheSchoolacknowledgestheneedtocontinuallymaintain,updateanddevelopitsresourcesandtomakeprogresstowardsconsistent,compatiblecomputer systemsbyinvestinginresourcesthatwilleffectivelydelivertheobjectives of the NationalCurriculumandsupporttheuseofIT, computer science and digital literacy acrosstheschool. Teachersarerequiredtoinformthecomputing subject leaderofanyfaultsassoonastheyarenoticed. AservicelevelagreementwithMarc Computers iscurrentlyinplacetohelpsupportthesubject leadertofulfillthisrolebothinhardwaresoftware. Computingnetworkinfrastructureandequipmenthasbeensitedsothat:

  • everyclassroomfromReceptiontoYr6hasa laptop computerconnectedtotheschoolnetworkandaninteractivewhiteboardwithsound and DVDfacilities
  • there are 12 laptops and charging trolley
  • each class has a mini tablet (two in Reception) for both teacher and pupil use
  • each class has a visualizer to support teaching and learning
  • Internetaccess is available in all classrooms
  • eachclassfromY1– Y6hasanallocatedslotone afternoon per weekforteachingcomputing as a discrete subject
  • thelaptopsareavailableforusethroughouttheschooldayaspartofnormal lesson activity
  • pupilsmayuseITandcomputingindependently,inpairs,alongsideaTAorinagroupwithateacher
  • theschoolhasacomputingtechnicianwhoisinschoolonce a week
  • agovernorwillbeinvitedtotakeaparticularinterestincomputingintheschool.

Planning

The whole-school scheme of work for Year 1 to Year 6 pupils fully meets the objectives of the National Curriculum for Computing and allows for clear progression. Pupil progress towards these objectives will be recorded by teachers as part of the school recording system.

Aminorityofpupilswillhaveparticular teachingandlearningrequirementswhichgobeyondtheprovisionforthatagerangeand,ifnotaddressed,couldcreatebarrierstolearning. ThiscouldincludeG&Tpupils,thosewithSENorthosewhohaveEAL. Teacherstakeaccountoftheserequirementsandplan,wherenecessary,tosupportindividualsorgroupsofpupilstoenablethemtoparticipateeffectivelyinthecurriculumandassessmentactivities. Duringanyteachingactivities,teacherstake into accountthatspecialarrangementscouldbemadeavailabletosupportindividualpupils. This is in accordance with the school inclusion policy. These pupils are identified and discussed at pupil progress meetings to ensure that appropriate provisions and/or interventions are provided.

Assessmentandrecordkeeping

Teachersregularlyassessprogressthroughobservationsandevidence.KeyobjectivestobeassessedaretakenfromtheNationalCurriculumtoassesscomputing each term. Assessing computingisanintegralpartofteachinglearningandkeytogoodpractice.

Assessment shouldbeprocessorientated-reviewingthewaythattechniquesandskillsareappliedpurposefullybypupilstodemonstratetheirunderstandingofcomputing concepts.Asassessmentispartofthelearningprocess,itisessentialthatpupilsarecloselyinvolved.

Assessmentsarecarriedoutduringandfollowingshortfocusedtasksandactivities.Theyprovidepupilsandteachingstafftheopportunitytoreflectontheirlearninginthecontextoftheagreedsuccesscriteria.Thisfeedsintoplanningforthenextlessonoractivity. Pupils’workincomputing is assessedbymakinginformaljudgmentsas pupils are observedduringlessons. Oncethepupilscompleteaunitofwork,asummaryjudgmentoftheworkforeachpupil is made astowhethertheyhaveyettoobtain,obtainedorexceededtheexpectationsoftheunit.

Results arerecordedinassessmentfilesandusedtoplanfuturework,providethebasisforprogressandtocommunicate with the pupils’ future class teacher(s). The pupils’ workissavedontheschoolnetwork. Otherworkmaybeprintedandfiledwithinthesubjectfromwhichthetaskwasset.

Monitoringandevaluation

Thesubjectleaderisresponsibleformonitoringthestandardofthepupils’workandthequalityofteachinginlinewiththeschool’smonitoringcycle.Thismaybethroughlessonobservations, pupil discussion and evaluating pupil work.

Time isallocatedforthevitaltaskofreviewingsamplesofpupils’workandforvisitingclassestoobserveteachinginthesubject.

Pupilswithspecialeducationalneeds(seealsoSENDpolicy)

The SchoolbelievesthatallpupilshavetherighttoaccessITandcomputing. Inordertoensurethatpupilswithspecialeducationalneedsachievetothebestoftheirability,itmaybenecessarytoadaptthedeliveryofthe computing curriculum for some pupils.

WeteachITandcomputingtoallpupils,whatevertheirability.ComputingformspartoftheNationalCurriculumtoprovideabroadandbalancededucationfor allpupils.Throughtheteachingofcomputingopportunities are providedthatenableallpupilstomakeprogress.This is donebysettingsuitablechallengesandrespondingtoeachpupil’sindividualneeds.Whereappropriate,IT canbeusedtosupportSENpupilsonaone-to-onebasiswherepupilsreceiveadditionalsupport.

Equalopportunities(seealsoEquality and DiversityPolicy)

The Schoolwillensurethatallpupilsareprovidedwiththesamelearningopportunitiesregardlessof socialclass,gender,culture,race,disabilityorlearningdifficulties.As aresult,the school hopestoenableallpupilstodeveloppositiveattitudestowardsothers. Allpupilshave equal accesstocomputingandall staffmembersfollowtheEquality and DiversityPolicy. ResourcesforSENpupilsandgiftedtalentedwillbemadeavailabletosupportandchallengeappropriately.

Stafftraining

Thecomputingsubject leaderwillassessandaddressstafftrainingneedsaspartoftheannualdevelopmentplanprocessorinresponsetoindividualneedsandrequeststhroughouttheyear.

Individualteachersshouldattempttocontinuallydeveloptheirownskillsandknowledge,identifytheirownneedsandnotifythesubject leader.

TeacherswillbeencouragedtouseITandcomputingtoproduceplans,reports,communicationsandteachingresources.

Healthandsafety(seealsoHealthandSafetyPolicy)

Theschoolisawareofthehealthandsafetyissuesinvolvedinpupils’useofITandcomputing.

All fixed electrical appliances in school are tested by a Local Authority contractor every five years and all portable electrical equipment in school is tested by an external contractor every twelve months.

It is advised that staff should not bring their own electrical equipment in to school but, if this is necessary, equipment must be PAT tested before being used in school. This also applies to any equipment brought in to school by, for example, visitors running workshops, activities, etc. and it is the responsibility of the member of staff organising the workshop, etc. to advise those people.

Allstaffshouldvisuallycheckelectricalequipmentbeforetheyuseitandtakeanydamagedequipmentoutofuse.Damagedequipmentshouldthenbereportedtoa computer technician,bursaror headteacherwhowillarrangeforrepairordisposal.

In addition:

  • pupilsshould be supervised if they are required to putplugsintosocketsorswitchthesocketson
  • trailingleadsshouldbemadesafebehindtheequipment
  • liquidsmustnotbetakennearthecomputers
  • magnetsmustbekeptawayfromallequipment
  • safetyguidelinesinrelationtoIWBswillbediscussed with pupils
  • E-safetyguidelineswillbeset outintheE-safetypolicyResponsible Use Policy.

Security

The School takes security very seriously. As such:

  • thecomputing technician willberesponsibleforregularlyupdatinganti-virussoftware.
  • useofITandcomputingwillbeinlinewiththeschool’s‘AcceptableUsePolicy’. Allstaff,volunteersandpupilsmust signacopyoftheschoolsAUP
  • parents/carerswillbemadeawareofthe‘Responsible UsePolicy’ on entry and each subsequent year. Both Parents/carers and pupils will be required to sign to confirm they are in agreement with this policy
  • allpupilsandparents/carerswillbeawareoftheschoolrulesforresponsibleuseofITandcomputingandtheinternetandwillunderstandtheconsequenceofanymisuse
  • theagreedrulesfor safeandresponsibleuseofITandcomputingandtheinternetwillbedisplayedinallclassrooms.

Cross-curricularlinks

Staff areawarethatITandcomputingskillsshouldbedevelopedthroughcoreandfoundationsubjects.Whereappropriate,ITandcomputingshouldbeincorporatedintoschemesofworkforallsubjects. ITandcomputingshouldbeusedtosupportlearninginothersubjectsaswellasdeveloping computing knowledge, skills and understanding.

Parentalinvolvement

Parents/carers areencouragedtosupporttheimplementationofITandcomputingwherepossiblebyencouraginguseofITandcomputingskillsathomefor pleasure, throughhome-learningtasksanduse of theschoolwebsite.Parents/carerswillbemadeawareof issues surrounding e-safetyandencouragedtopromotethisathome.

Policy review

The review cycle for this policy is every three years.

This policy was agreed by the Local Board, Headteacher and staff at Christian Malford Primary School on 23rd November 2015 and is due for review by November 2018.

Signed: ……………………………………………… Chair of Local Board

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