Computing

At Linthorpe Primary, we use computers and handheld technology to enhance and extend our children’s learning across the whole curriculum. Staff and children have the resources and capability to access a wide range of devices, from PCs to iPads, in order to support whole class and independent learning. Within a safe learning environment, children are taught to recognise the value of computing for themselves and others, whilst being aware of its advantages and limitations.

At Linthorpe, we care greatly about keeping our children safe, both at school and out in the wider world. Internet safety is a large part of our computing curriculum and our everyday teaching. A large part of this is also down to parents. We encourage and work in partnership with parents to ensure that their computers and mobile devices are safe for our young people to use. In this way we can ensure that we nurture healthy, positive, worldly wise children that know how to keep themselves and others safe.

Throughout the year, we provide various clubs that allow children to develop a deeper interest and understanding of different areas of the computing curriculum.

Our high-quality bespoke curriculum, taught by a specialist teacher, provides ample opportunities for the children of Linthorpe to develop as computational thinkers. The curriculum is taught through our Big Ideas: The Impact of Computing, Data and Information, Creative Media, Presenting, Computer Systems and Networks and Programming. The big ideas are under the umbrella of the National Curriculum strands: Computer Science, Information and Technology and Digital Literacy. 

Having discreet Computing lessons means that children are able to develop depth in their knowledge and skills over the duration of each unit. Children build on prior knowledge and understanding to competently create programs, systems and learn new skills through a range of content. From year 2 to 6, children use a high-level block based visual programming website to start their coding journey. They then transfer these skills through physical coding components such as Microbits and Spheros.

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.