Gardners Lane Primary School

 Computing is an exciting and powerful skill and is used to enrich the teaching and learning experience of the child. We aim to use a selection of computing resources to equip children with ‘life skills’.

Computing is embedded as a teaching and learning tool within each individual subject area. Children and staff make informed and independent decisions as to the appropriate tools needed to meet teaching and learning needs.

The changes in technology are observed and reflected in the resources made available to all. The school-infrastructure provides equal and sufficient access to a range resources that will enhance the learning journey of the children in Computing.

With effective professional development and provision of resources, we expect all teachers to confidently and effectively support all children’s computing learning experiences.

Aims

Digital technology has become part of the way we all work and entertain ourselves. We use computing in a variety of ways, including:

• Online lesson research, teaching plans and resource materials
• Lesson delivery via interactive whiteboard
• Communication by e-mail
• Document distribution and storage via GLPS resource server
• Assessment information analysis
• Production and editing of reports.

Through teaching computing we equip children to participate in a world of rapidly-changing technology. We enable them to find, explore, analyse, exchange and present information. We also help them develop the necessary skills for using information in a discriminating and effective way. This is a major part of enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners.

The National Curriculum for Computing aims to ensure that all pupils:

• can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
• can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
• can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
• are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.

Planning

We use the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Computing as the basis for planning. Teachers may supplement areas of study with a variety of schemes of work.

To view what your child is studying access the 'Our Curriculum' part of the website under the 'School Information' section.

E-Safety

E-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Gardners Lane Primary School . We have extensive security measures in place in school, which are monitored both internally and externally, to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Any E-Safety incidents are recorded and managed in accordance with  our E-Safety Policy. E-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.

We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the e-Safety message is consistent.

It is important that parents speak to and monitor their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online. PWe would urge parents to share the school weekly E-Safety newsletters.

It’s essential to be realistic - banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.