"Pupils flourish at this happy and welcoming school. They are extremely well motivated to make the most of the wide range of opportunities on offer to them."
Learning and Curriculum

Computing

Statement of Intent for 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.

 

Computing Curriculum

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 and 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.

Computing Curriculum

 

Computing Policy

Computing Policy

 

Knowledge Organisers for Computing

Below is an example knowledge organiser from each year group for Computing:

Year One - Digital Citizenship

Year Two - Digital Citizenship

Year Three - Digital Citizenship

Year Four - Digital Citizenship

Year Five - Digital Citizenship

Year Six - Digital Citizenship

These are sent home each half term as part of the curriculum overviews. EYFS Knowledge Organisers can be found in the EYFS tab.

 

High quality texts underpinning our Computing curriculum

Computing is promoted throughout our core lessons at Masefield which means knowledge and vocabulary is consistently being revisited throughout the curriculum. We use high quality fiction and non-fiction texts to inspire our children to create high quality pieces of writing, encourage the love of reading and embed their Computing skills further.

Our Award Winning Provision for Computing

NAACE Mark Excellence in Education Technology - Achieved February 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.

Read our NAACE Mark Report

Computing Quality Framework - In Progress

Computing quality framework logo
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. 

 

National Online Safety Certified School - Achieved 2019, renewed November 2021

 

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’. 

National Online Safety Safe Remote Education - Achieved November 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.

Other Relevant Information

Below you will find more information relevant to the teaching of Computing at Masefield Primary School.

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 Year Two to Year Six has 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 Mathematics and Geography, and data-loggers for Science. We also utilise a variety of online resources for learning, including but not limited to Purple Mash, Times Tables Rock Stars, Spelling Shed, Epic Reading, Seesaw and Learning by Questions (of which we are an ambassador school).

Masefield is very highly resourced for Computing. We have sets of BeeBots, Lego WeDo and Spheros for coding. This supports the teaching of Computer Science along with on screen programs such as CSFirst.

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.

Our Computing Leader runs Computer Science clubs throughout the year for pupils across the school. These are very popular with our children. We also host a Virtual After School club, ran by Bolton Schools ICT, for Year 5 and 6 pupils which again is very popular.

At Masefield Primary School, we conduct visits to Bolton Schools ICT as part of our Computing curriculum to provide pupils with access to high-quality, specialist resources and expert-led learning experiences that enhance their digital skills. These visits offer opportunities for hands-on exploration of technology in a purpose-built environment, allowing children to apply and extend their classroom learning in areas such as coding, multimedia, and digital literacy. By engaging with cutting-edge tools and real-world applications, pupils are inspired to become confident, creative, and responsible users of technology, better preparing them for the digital world of today and the future. At Masefield Primary School, we believe it is important not to charge parents for visits to Bolton Schools ICT because we are committed to ensuring that all pupils have equal access to high-quality learning experiences, regardless of financial circumstances. By removing any cost barrier, we promote inclusion and uphold our belief that every child should have the opportunity to benefit from specialist facilities and enriched curriculum opportunities. These visits are a valuable part of our Computing provision, and we firmly believe they should be accessible to all, as part of our wider mission to nurture potential and broaden horizons for every learner.

 

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.

At Masefield Primary School, we train Year 5 pupils as Digital Leaders in partnership with Bolton Schools ICT to empower them with the skills, confidence, and responsibility to support the use of technology across the school. This programme develops their technical knowledge, leadership abilities, and problem-solving skills, while promoting responsible digital citizenship. By becoming Digital Leaders, pupils take an active role in helping peers and staff with ICT, leading initiatives such as online safety, and inspiring others through digital innovation. It is a valuable opportunity for pupils to grow as confident, capable role models and contribute meaningfully to our school community.

For more information about Online Safety at Masefield Primary School, please click here.

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