Computing

At Barkston and Syston Primary, Computing is taught as an essential discipline that enables pupils to shine their light through creativity, curiosity and resilience. The Computing curriculum begins in Early Years with exploratory play and progresses through Key Stage 1 and 2 to develop confident, safe and capable users of technology. In a small village school with a diverse intake and a rising prevalence of digital systems in the world of work, our Computing provision prepares children for future jobs, research and everyday life while reinforcing our community ethos and high expectations of behaviour and respect for others.

Key Aims

• To ensure every child gains secure, age-appropriate knowledge and practical skills in digital literacy, computational thinking and information technology so they can access the wider curriculum and the modern world.
• To develop safe, responsible and ethical digital citizens who understand online safety, privacy and equality when interacting with digital communities.
• To build progression from exploration in Early Years through structured, sequenced learning in KS1 and KS2 so pupils know more and remember more of the intended curriculum.
• To foster aspiration and awareness of future careers and research opportunities in computing and related sectors, including an appreciation of how computing underpins many professions.
• To close gaps in knowledge and address misconceptions systematically through clear assessment, responsive teaching and targeted catch-up so all pupils, including disadvantaged and SEND learners, make strong progress.

Content and Skills

Pupils will develop the following core knowledge and skills across the phase:

• Digital literacy: basic device and software skills, effective use of word processing, presentation tools, and safe, purposeful internet use for research.
• Computational thinking: sequencing, pattern recognition, decomposition and algorithms introduced via unplugged activities and block-based programming (KS1) progressing to text-based coding concepts and debugging (KS2).
• Information technology: understanding how hardware and software work together, using data-handling tools and simple digital media creation (images, audio, presentations).
• Online safety and wellbeing: age-appropriate knowledge about privacy, respectful online communication, recognising risks and knowing how to report concerns.
• Creativity and problem solving: designing, testing and improving digital solutions; using computing as a tool for cross-curricular projects and independent learning.
   

Progression

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that foundational experiences in Early Years build into KS1 outcomes: basic device control, simple algorithms, and safe, supervised internet research. In KS2, pupils consolidate and extend these foundations with more sophisticated programming concepts, data handling, digital creation and critical evaluation of online content. Learning is revisited frequently: key concepts (e.g. algorithm, debug, data, privacy) recur with increasing complexity. Assessment is used to identify gaps and misconceptions; teachers use this information to reteach, provide scaffolded practice and enable pupils to master essential knowledge before advancing.

Wider Impact

Computing contributes to the whole-child development and the school vision by promoting confidence, responsibility and determination. It supports oracy and the RSE priority through structured discussion of online behaviour and ethics, and it enhances EYFS outdoor provision through cross-curricular projects that link physical exploration with digital recording and reflection. We aim to ensure pupils leave Barkston and Syston as curious, resilient learners who can apply digital skills to future education, employment and community life, understanding both the opportunities and responsibilities of an increasingly digital world.