Computing Curriculum

The computing topics have been chosen to match the requirements of the National Curriculum, ensuring the children are enthused and inspired. The curriculum has been divided into six strands, which are returned to each year, building upon prior knowledge.

Autumn 1 – Programming

With a core focus on computer science, the first half term of each year teaches the children how to code. They design animations, develop software and plan and create complex games. Starting with the Scratch coding software before moving to the Python coding language by Year 6.

Autumn 2 – Computational Thinking

Elements of computer science continue with a new emphasis on logical thinking and problem solving. The children debug code, develop solutions to problems, crack codes and ciphers, and solve mathematical problems using technology.

Spring 1 – Creativity

Content creation joins computer science, with an emphasis on using technology to create digital work. Children create video presentations, musical compositions, digital artwork and digital adverts.

Spring 2 – Networks

Children begin to study how technology is used to connect the world. They learn how search engines work, how to use HTML to create webpages, how to develop websites and how networks operate.

Summer 1 – Communication

Digital technology allows people to communicate and share their ideas, and this is the focus of the communication strand. It 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. The children email other schools, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects. They author online blogs and create printed books for different audiences.

Summer 2 – Presenting Data

Children learn how to collect, interpret and present data. Creating online surveys, collecting meteorological data, presenting a weather forecast, designing a 3D art gallery to display their artwork and become travel writers and charting their real-life adventures.

Year 3

Autumn - First half term

Week 1

Programming – Programmers

To recognise different types of computer animations

Revision – Year 2

To recall ordering of instructions

Week 2

Programming – Programmers

To produce a storyboard for an animation

Revision – Year 2

To recognise algorithms

Week 3

Programming – Programmers

To manipulate animations using code blocks

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to order instructions

Week 4

Programming – Programmers

To produce an animation

Revision – Year 2

To identify block categories

Week 5

Programming – Programmers

To produce sprites for my animation

Revision – Year 2

To describe common tools and options in painting software

Week 6

Programming – Programmers

To manipulate sprites with animation

Revision – Year 2

To match blocks to purpose

Week 7

Programming – Programmers

To appraise my animation

Revision – Year 2

To recall evaluation vocabulary

Autumn - Second half term

Week 1

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To recognise how and why bugs exist in software

Revision – Year 2

To identify technology around the classroom

Week 2

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify one-off bugs

Revision – Year 2

To define ‘algorithm’ using everyday activities

Week 3

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify and correct performance bugs

Revision – Year 2

To order events using a programmable toy

Week 4

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify and correct multi-thread bugs

Revision – Year 2

To order events using a programmable toy

Week 5

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify and correct conceptual bugs

Revision – Year 2

To recognise angles

Week 6

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify and correct multiplication bug

Revision – Year 2

To recall division and multiplication facts

Week 7

Computational Thinking – Bug Fixers

To identify and correct resource bugs

Revision – Year 2

To recall simple instructions

Spring - First half term

Week 1

Creativity – Presenters

To analyse how TV broadcasts are produced

Revision – Year 2

To identify roles in society

Week 2

Creativity – Presenters

To practice how to use video cameras effectively

Revision – Year 2

To recall how digital cameras are used

Week 3

Creativity – Presenters

To produce a ‘shooting schedule’

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to order instructional events

Week 4

Creativity – Presenters

To use video equipment to create a presentation

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to take and frame photographs

Week 5

Creativity – Presenters

To assemble footage into a presentation

Revision – Year 2

To recognise qualities of a good team

Week 6

Creativity – Presenters

To identify online safety risks and rules
(Safer Internet Week)

Revision – Year 2

To recall SMART rules

Spring - Second half term

Week 1

Networks – Vloggers

To describe how search engines work

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to touch type

Week 2

Networks – Vloggers

To breakdown a topic into research points

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to touch type

Week 3

Networks – Vloggers

To assembly presentation content using search engines

Revision – Year 2

To identify how to be safe when using the internet

Week 4

Networks – Vloggers

To practice using the key features of presentation software

Revision – Year 2

To identify common buttons and tools across different software

Week 5

Networks – Vloggers

To create a presentation

Revision – Year 2

To recall key features of painting software

Week 6

Networks – Vloggers

To prepare a presentation

Revision – Year 2

To describe what makes a good presentation

Summer - First half term

Week 1

Communication – Communicators

To explain online safety rules when using the internet

Revision – Year 2

To recall SMART rules

Week 2

Communication – Communicators

To recognise rules when using email

Revision – Year 2

To recall how people communicate

Week 3

Communication – Communicators

To produce an email for our paired class

Revision – Year 2

To identify tools and buttons in email software

Week 4

Communication – Communicators

To prepare an attachment to an email

Revision – Year 2

To recall online safety rules about attachments

Week 5

Communication – Communicators

To combine my buddy’s work with my own in a presentation

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to work with a partner

Week 6

Communication – Communicators

To evaluate our work through video conferencing

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to touch type

Summer - Second half term

Week 1

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To identify different types of questioning used in surveys

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to touch type

Week 2

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To produce questions for a survey

Revision – Year 2

To identify 5Ws and how to use them in our questions

Week 3

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To use online survey software

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to be safe online

Week 4

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To assemble data from a survey

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to use tally charts

Week 5

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To analyse data from a survey

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to read graphs and charts

Week 6

Presenting Data – Opinion Pollsters

To appraise the effectiveness of a survey

Revision – Year 2

To recall how to touch type

Programming

Year 3 start with programming. They use their prior knowledge of instructions and sequencing from KS1 to consolidate their learning. In contrast to KS1, where children use practical moving robots to carry out instructions, Year 3 begin to use Scratch to order and sequence coding blocks.

They build upon their understanding of movement instructions and looping statements, and start to use variables and mathematical operators to develop more complex and dynamic instructions.

Communication

Year 3 then build upon KS1 learning by using technology to present information in interactive ways.

As part of an online safety focussed strand, Year 3 then develop their understanding of communication over networks and the internet, learning how to be safe online. They will refer back to their prior learning in KS1 and apply it to real-world activities such as emailing another school.

Data

Finally, Year 3 use their knowledge of charts and tables in maths to learn how to collect data using technology. They will create online surveys and decide how best to create questions which can produce answers which can be analysed. This links with their experiences in guided reading and comprehension lessons in English, developing their understanding of closed and open questioning.

Autumn 1

Programming

Software Developers

Autumn 2

Computational Thinking

Bug Fixers

Spring 1

Creativity

Presenters

Spring 2

Networks

Vloggers

Summer 1

Communication

Communicators

Summer 2

Presenting Data

Travel Writers