Computing/Technology at Flyford Flavell Primary School

At Flyford Flavell Primary School, we want every child to become masters of technology in the rapidly changing digital world. Pupils will develop their digital literacy skills whilst gaining the knowledge of how to develop their ideas and safely use technology. They will be able to apply the skills to their further education and future career preparing them for jobs of the future.  Our children will have many different opportunities to use a wide range of technology such as animation, graphic design, and digital software with a consistent focus on keeping safe.  Alongside Microsoft and Apple Software such as Word, PowerPoint, and handwriting apps, all our classes have access to Purple Mash which provides the following:

• Creative Tools - 2Paint, 2Publish, 2Design & Make, 2Publish Extra, 2Go, 2Graph, 2Count, 2Animate, 2Sequence, Logo, 2Investigate, 2DIY 3D
• Games and Content - 2Type, Simple City, Maths Games 1
• Publish Projects
• Paint Projects
• Mash Cams, Post Cards, Leaflets
• Personalised login portal

Children have plenty of opportunity to apply their technology skills and knowledge across the curriculum.  For example, countries will be researched in geography or historical figures in history.  From Year 2 onwards, “My Maths” is used to set children mathematical homework.

Early Years

Children will develop skills and an understanding of the purpose of these technologies such as using Google as a search engine and using talking tins to record and playback sounds.  The children also have opportunities to use old mobile phones, keyboards, and computers in their role play. They talk about the different technologies they use at home for example the microwave, washing machines and televisions. There are iPads available with age specific learning apps set up. They use the interactive whiteboards in the classrooms daily. Children use Bee-bots to develop their early programming skills.

Key Stage One

Children use a mixture of iPads and Windows PCs to develop their computing skills. They learn why it is important to keep personal information private and where to go for help if something or someone makes them feel uncomfortable using the story ‘Smartie the Penguin’. Through simple point, click and drag games, the children learn the main parts of a computer and refine their mouse control. They continue to develop this by using the Paint program to create their own pieces of art. The children learn how to write their own algorithms using simple coding programs such as Beebots. They will develop their keyboard skills using simple text handling programs such as word to create captions and labels for their artwork.

Children develop their creativity creating animated story books linked to their English texts.  They use Word to make text look interesting and PowerPoint to present information connected to other areas.  Children learn to save their work and load it again to make subsequent changes. This is linked to developing an understanding of how the school network works and where the data is physically stored. In work on online safety, the children learn some simple rules to follow when using the Internet. They research their topics such as the Great Fire of London using a range of websites and learn that some websites can be inaccurate while others are not suitable for children. The children consider the risks associated with video sharing sites such as YouTube and recap who they can talk to if they have concerns when they use online technology.

Lower Key Stage Two

Pupils build on their knowledge of how computer networks function and link. They continue to use the Internet to find information and evaluate the effectiveness of their keyword searches and the reliability of the information generated. They know how to use advanced searches to find copyright free images and how to bookmark websites on both the computer and iPad. Pupils learn how to use email safely as a method of communication including acceptable and unacceptable content. Children also learn how to create avatars to use as an online alias when using discussion forums to keep their identify safe. They are taught to recognise the effect their comments might have on others (including cyberbullying) and to respect the ideas, work, and communications of all.   Children use and apply sequence, selection, and repetition in programs and work with variables. They use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs. The children will also develop their basic skills within Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. They will be able to use these skills when completing their research projects across the curriculum. They will know how to structure and store their own data and create folders so that they can retrieve it easily. Pupils are also taught about the role computers and other devices have in industry.

Pupils are taught how to verify the reliability of information on websites and evaluate the accuracy of content. They continue to understand how to use technology safely, respectfully, and responsibly, recognising acceptable or unacceptable behaviour; and can identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact. Children develop their transferable skills of word processing and design by creating non-fiction texts linked to their topic work. They use logical reasoning to explain how some algorithms work and to detect and correct errors.  Using an iPad, the children will create their own stop motion animation linked to their history topic. Throughout these years, there will be a focus on how technology is used to support a variety of everyday tasks in the wider world.

Upper Key Stage Two

In Years Five and Six, pupils will develop further their computing skills. Pupils will be taught to design, write and debug programmes that accomplish specific goals, including controlling physical systems such as our Spheros and simulating systems, solving problems by decomposing them into smaller parts. Within this we shall use further sequences, selections, and repetitions in programming to code more effectively as well as to work with greater variables and forms of input and output.

Pupils will gain a good understanding of computer systems and networks including the internet and to use search techniques effectively with an appreciation and discernment of the results and digital content. In addition, we will ensure that they have an appreciation of the safe use of technology, so that they may use it respectfully and responsibly and to recognise unacceptable behaviour with a range of ways to report concerns.

Year Five and Six pupils will use and combine a variety of software to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals including collecting, analysing, and presenting data and information in the form of websites, databases and online quizzes.