Learning & Curriculum
Computing
At Masefield we reflect the National Curriculum’s belief that high-quality Computing education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. Technology has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena and the world.
The school’s long term plan for Computing sets out the content of teaching within in each year group. This is supported by the school’s Computing progression document which demonstrates learning outcomes within each strand of development within an Computing unit. Short term planning details how this content is developed over a series of lessons within the unit of work.
At Masefield computing is an integral part of our school and our aim is that:
· Children will enjoy computing and will tackle applications with confidence and a sense of achievement;
· Children will develop independence and use computing skills in a purposeful way;
· It will be valued through adequate provision of resources, a long term vision set out in the School Improvement & Development Plan, along with appropriate Continuing Professional Development for all staff;
· Computing will take a cross-curricular approach;
· Children will develop practical skills and the ability to solve problems using computational thinking;
· Subject co-ordinators will familiarise themselves with relevant software and provide computing resources for their subject.
Our Award Winning Provision for Computing
Since 2023
The Naace Mark is the award for schools which are committed to excellence in using technology to support teaching and learning, and to improve overall effectiveness and efficiency.
Achieved in Feb 2023
In Progress
The Computing Quality Mark is awarded to schools who are able to show good practice in the Computing Quality Framework from the National Centre for Computing Education, along the British Computing Society. This award acknowledges and celebrates the high quality of our Computing provision across the whole school.
In Progress
The Online Safety Mark is awarded to schools who demonstrate commitment and good practice in their policies and procedures towards keeping children safe online. This spans from simple security, privacy and online ‘stranger danger’ to cyberbullying, online copyright and digital footprint and reputation.
Since 2019
The ‘National Online Safety’ Certified School accreditation supports schools to implement an effective, whole school community approach to online safety, encompassing high-quality CPD for all staff, parents and governors to meet the statutory online safety duties in the ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance and align to ‘Education for a Connected World’.
Renewed in November 2021
Since 2021
The DfE published their ‘Review your remote education provision’ guidance to support schools to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in their remote education provision. The ‘Safe Remote Education’ accreditation is directly aligned to the DfE guidance and provides external validation that teachers and leaders understand how to maintain effective safeguarding arrangements whilst also providing high-quality remote education and supporting pupil wellbeing.
Achieved in November 2021
Computing Enrichment
Applying their technological knowledge and creativity in a range of real life, practical situations
At Masefield, we have a wide range of technology to support teaching and learning, both in Computing lessons and across the curriculum, and in all aspects of school life.
Each pupil in KS2 (Y3-6) have their own iPad to support digital learning across the curriculum. We use the SAMR model to assists teachers to assess the degree to which digitally-empowered learning and teaching is (or is not) moving beyond what can be taught using analog technologies. We have banks of iPads in EYFS and KS1, and banks of laptops for every class in school. Each classroom has a Digital screen with iPad connectivity so screens can be mirrored for the class to see.
A range of additional iPad apps and resources are used to implement the use of technology in all subjects, including floor robots for maths and geography, and data-loggers for Science. We also utilise a variety of online resources for learning, including Purple Mash, Times Tables Rock Stars, Spelling Shed, Read Theory and Learning by Questions (of which we are an ambassador school).
Classes across the school also take part in a range of Computing based workshops. Computer Science workshops support children in their understanding of programming and coding, and allow them to apply the skills that they learn in lessons to a range of further resources. School has sets of BeeBots for EYFS/KS1 coding, Lego WeDO 2.0 sets for LKS2 coding & Spheres for UKS2 coding. This support the teaching of Computer Science along with on screen programs such as PurpleMash 2Code and Scratch.
Additionally, our classes enjoy a variety of STEM boxes throughout the year. These boxes are loaned from Bolton Schools ICT, and contain a variety of resources that enhance our Computing curriculum, such as InoBots robots, SAM Labs coding blocks and a wide range of EYFS resources.
Assemblies
Online safety is regularly visited during assemblies each term. Following each class assembly, parents are given an online safety update to support their understanding of current issues and how they can support their children. An online safety newsletter is sent to all parents and staff each month - these can be found in the 'Online Safety' section of the website under the parents tab. Alongside these are parent guides for popular games and apps children use.
Digital Leaders
Our Digital Leaders receive online safety training annually from a consultant from Bolton Schools ICT.
They support in regular online safety assemblies, and follow these up by leading activities in their classes. They take feedback from their peers to inform the next round of assemblies and activities on online safety.
High quality texts underpinning our Online Safety curriculum
Online Safety is taught through discrete lessons at Masefield, alongside our wide range of online safety enrichment activities. We use high quality, recommended texts to illustrate different aspects of online safety, and to allow children to explore these issues within the safe and familiar context of stories.