'Be wise; be wonderful!'
Resilience * Enjoyment * Respect * Excellence * Responsible
Lead: Mrs H. Hammersley
COMPUTING
At Woodcroft Academy, we aim to prepare our pupils for the digital world. Technology is changing the lives of everyone. Through teaching computing, we intend to equip our children with the skills to flourish in a rapidly changing world that is increasingly transformed by technology. There is no denying that technology and computers will play a huge part in our pupils' future education, employment and daily lives. Our priority is to ensure that pupils are equipped to use technology effectively and safely and become outstanding digital citizens.
We aim, therefore, to equip children with the skills to adapt to new technology and to give them confidence to use ICT and computing skills to further their learning and assist them in everyday life. 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 pupils 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.
Not only do pupils use technology to access the broader curriculum as consumers and creators but pupils also take part in a constantly evolving and exciting computing curriculum the aims of which are outlined below.
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Provide a broad, balanced, challenging and enjoyable curriculum for all pupils.
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Meet the requirements of the national curriculum programmes of study for Computing at Key Stage 1 and 2.
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Develop pupil’s computational thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
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Use ICT and computing as a tool to enhance learning throughout the curriculum.
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To equip pupils with the confidence, skills and capability to use digital tools and technologies throughout their lives.
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To stimulate interest in new technologies.
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To enhance and enrich learning in other areas of the curriculum by cross curricular use of ICT
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To develop the understanding of how to use computers and digital tools safely and stay safe online.
AIMS
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
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Can understand and apply the fundamental principles of computer science, including logic, algorithms, data representation, and communication.
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Can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems.
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Can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems.
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Are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology.
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
At Woodcroft Academy, we believe in providing our pupils with the best possible education by using the best available tools and teaching methods. We are committed to fully inclusive, personalised learning and we always aspire to do all we can to ensure that each and every child progresses quickly and achieve their full potential, regardless of any barriers
Teachers identify children who are gifted and talented in the area of Computing. It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that these children are suitably challenged in their use of computing both in specific computing lessons and when using ICT in other curriculum areas. Opportunities are identified for these children to actively participate in more challenging aspects of computing.
• The ICT and computing technician /coordinator are responsible for regularly updating anti-virus software.
• Children sign the iPad User Contract form when they enter the school in September.
• Use of ICT and computing will be in line with the school’s ‘acceptable use policy’. All staff must sign a copy of the schools policy annually.
• Children sign a ‘Responsible internet access and ICT use for pupils’ form when they enter the school in Year 1.
• Parents will be made aware of the ‘acceptable use policy’ at school entry.
• All pupils and parents will be aware of the school rules for responsible use of ICT and computing and the internet and will understand the consequence of any misuse.
• The agreed rules for safe and responsible use of ICT and computing and the internet will be displayed in all ICT and computing areas.
• The rules of online safety are displayed where any child can access the internet. If a child breaks these rules, they will be denied internet access for a period of time after which the situation will be reviewed.
LEADER FOR ICT AND COMPUTING
The subject leader is responsible for providing professional leadership and management of computing within the school. They will monitor standards to ensure high quality teaching, effective use of resources and improved standards of learning and achievement. This will include observation of lessons and scrutiny of the pupils' work. They will collect, analyse and distribute, where applicable, information relating to the subject to the relevant people.
CLASS TEACHERS
It is the responsibility of each class teacher to ensure that their class is taught all elements of the ICT curriculum as set out in the national curriculum programme of study.
ALL STAFF
It is the responsibility of all staff to make themselves aware of legislation relating to the use of ICT and computing, including copyright and data protection issues.
INCLUSIVE TEACHING OF ICT
SECURITY
ROLES & RESPONSIBITIES
RESOURCES
Our classrooms are well equipped with every Key Stage 1 and 2 class having a 1:1 device program that has been in place since May 2021. We currently deploy iPads to every pupil and these are used to build on learning to access the broader curriculum. Teachers have access to a class laptop and iPad. All iPads and computers around the school are networked and have Internet access. We keep resources for ICT and computing, including software, in a central store
The monitoring of the standards of the children’s work and of the quality of teaching in computing is the responsibility of the computing subject leader. The computing subject leader is also responsible for supporting colleagues in the teaching of computing, for keeping informed about current developments in the subject and for providing a strategic lead and direction for the subject in the school. The computing subject leader gives the principal an evaluated action plan in which she evaluates the strengths and weaknesses in the subject and indicates areas for further improvement. The computing subject leader has specially-allocated time (termly) for carrying out the vital task of reviewing samples of the children’s work and for visiting classes to observe the teaching of ICT and computing.
The school is aware of the health and safety issues involved in children’s use of ICT and computing. An electrical inspection is carried out in school every five years by Quantec on behalf of Staffordshire County Council. Portable electrical equipment in school is tested by the site manager every twelve months. It is advised that staff should not bring their own electrical equipment in to school but if this is necessary, then the equipment must be PAT tested before being used in school. This also applies to any equipment brought in to school by, for example, people running workshops, activities, etc. and it is the responsibility of the member of staff organising the workshop, etc. to advise those people. All staff should visually check electrical equipment before they use it and take any damaged equipment out of use. Damaged equipment should then be reported to the ICT technicians.
Teachers are responsible to ensure that children do not put plug into sockets or switch the sockets on, trailing leads are made safe behind the equipment, no liquids on tables and that safety guidelines are displayed in the classroom.
MONITORING & EVALUATING
HEALTH & SAFETY
All staff, including managerial and administrative staff, receive support from the subject leader or technicians and, where necessary, external training in hardware or software which they are expected to use to carry out their role.
At Woodcroft, we involve parents in our school life. Parents have access to their child's Showbie Portfolio - this enables them to view their child's favourite piece of work each week. Currently, we are planning online safety workshops for the upcoming year to support parents with online security, age restrictions and any technical queries they may have.
The Academy is supported by St Bart's Trust ICT Technicians whose specific roles relate to the provision of support in ICT. This support takes a variety of forms, i