Teaching Computing at Templars Primary School

In this modern world, Templars' students are surrounded by an ever-changing landscape of new technology and online services and potential dangers. We believe every student needs to learn how computers work and how to use them responsibly as a tool to understand and influence the world around them.

The curriculum is centred around 3 key strands: Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy. In Computer Science students learn that computers run software and this is made up of a series of instructions called code. Computational thinking is applied to find solutions with code through logical reasoning. This is first explored in the Early Years with children giving instructions to robots and remote control cars. As students move into Key Stage 1 children are introduced to block coding and learn how the computer can be coded to control sprites through a variety of different inputs. To keep this fun and engaging this is taught by deconstructing simple computer games. Students are encouraged to look for errors (bugs) in a selection of different games and begin to widen their vocabulary of computing terms.  In Key Stage 2 there is a focus on looking at real life situations and how coded software makes some tasks more efficient. For example, in Year 4 children learn about how variables can be used to make a calculator or shop till. We believe as students progress to Upper Key Stage 2 they should be introduced to real world coding languages such as Python and HTML. Students are shown the similarities of the different coding languages and explore and create websites.

Information Technology teaches children what computers are and how they work beginning in the Early Years children being to explore and learn to operate a selection of different devices and software from torches, robots, clocks to using the interactive whiteboard. Key Stage 1 students begin to learn about the key uses of popular applications and start to navigate around various operating systems and common applications such as word processors, databases, web browsers and search engines. As students move into Key Stage 2 they explore how the internet works and how to refine and filter searches on the internet. Touch Typing is encouraged as this allows children more time to think about their ideas and content of their work rather than finding keys on the keyboard. Students begin to create their own data files of spreadsheets and databases building upon the introductions they had in Key Stage 1. Various animation software is explored to demonstrate how computers can be used to make some tasks more efficient.

As part of the Templars' tailored curriculum, we believe that every child should become a responsible digital citizen. The values we teach children about kindness, compassion and professionalism should be reflected in their online actions. We hope students to be confident after leaving Templars' to use online collaboration tools and networking professionally, be aware of scam emails and phishing attempts and use social media responsibly. This starts in the Early Years with the children exploring stories about internet safety and learning to speak to a trusted adult if they find anything that worries or upsets them. In Key Stage 1 we expand the details of safe internet usage through the SMART targets and explore various situations about gaming addiction, screen time balance and online communication dangers. As the students move into Key Stage 2 we understand that children may have more access independently to online devices at home and teach them about fake news, internet security and password protection, the dangers of online relationships and friendships, how to comment and reply appropriately online, how to report an issue to a trusted adult, website administrator or the police. We encourage students to be role-models online with a positive and kind outlook at all times. Alongside this part of the curriculum, we also support parents with a selection of resources and news about the latest trends and dangers online.