Computing

At Hollickwood, we believe that children must be given opportunities and experiences that prepare them successfully for the world beyond school.

We believe it is important that they learn computing, so that they are equipped to participate in a rapidly changing world where work and leisure activities are increasingly transformed by technology. We aim to give our pupils the life-skills that will enable them to embrace and utilise new technology in a socially responsible and safe way in order to flourish. The curriculum promotes computational thinking and creativity to allow children to become autonomous, independent users of computing technologies, gaining confidence and enjoyment from their activities.

Hollickwood School Computing Curriculum is built upon the National Curriculum and our chosen scheme is Purple Mash. We use and follow the Purple Mash scheme of work to ensure consistency and progression throughout the school. Purple Mash provides a clear progression of all the skills and knowledge that we are required to teach. In EYFS teaching is through context-based and role play experiences using many resources such as iPads and programmable toys. We use computing to enhance all aspects of the curriculum and further engage the pupils in leading their own learning.

The computing curriculum covers three strands:

• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Digital literacy

Our Curriculum Intent, which takes into account the school, local, national and global needs, is embedded throughout our Computing curriculum:

Experiences and Opportunities

We aim to provide children with an extensive range of technology, wealth of learning opportunities and transferrable skills which support and enhance in developing the core knowledge and understanding of the computing curriculum.

Inclusion

At Hollickwood all pupils have equal access to the Computing curriculum and a high quality, coherent and progressive experience of Computing. Learning ability, physical ability, linguistic ability, gender, ethnicity and/or cultural circumstances will not impede pupils from accessing Computing lessons.

Hollickwood is committed to teaching our children to respect, accept and celebrate the diversity and difference that exists in our society. Our ethos, culture and curriculum reflects these communities and is proactive in promoting belonging and community accountability.

Cognitive rich

Our enquiry based curriculum enables children to explore all aspects of the computing curriculum. Children are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work, and how to apply this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that children become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.

Mental Health and Well-being

At Hollickwood School, all children in all key stages are taught computing as a core foundation to their learning. Through the use of computer science lessons, we enable children to develop creativity, resilience, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Computing skills are an integral factor in enabling children to be confident, imaginative and independent learners. We aim for our pupils to have a breadth of experience to develop their understanding of themselves as individuals within their community but also as members of a wider global community and as responsible digital