Horsforth Featherbank Primary School

How we implement our Computing curriculum:

At Horsforth Featherbank Primary, we acknowledge the need to continually maintain, update and develop our resources and to make progress towards consistent, compatible computer systems by investing in resources that will effectively deliver the objectives of the National Curriculum and support the use of IT, computer science and digital literacy across the school. Computing network infrastructure and equipment has been sited so that:

• Every classroom from Reception to Y6 has a laptop connected to the school network and an interactive whiteboard with sound, DVD and video facilities.

• There is a computing suite of 30 desktops.

• Internet access is available in all classrooms.

• Each class from Y1 to Y6 has an allocated slot once per week for teaching computing as a discrete subject.

• The computing suite is available to be booked for use throughout the school day as part of computing lessons and for cross-curricular use.

• Pupils may use IT and computing independently, in pairs, alongside a TA or in a group with a teacher.

• The school has a computing technician who is in school once every two weeks on a Wednesday.

• There are 30 iPads available to be booked for use throughout the school day as part of computing lessons and for cross-curricular use.

• Each class teacher has an iPad.

Teaching Computing through Kapow

All discrete Computing lessons are taught by our class teachers through the Kapow Primary scheme. Kapow Primary Computing is designed with three strands which run throughout:

• Computer science.
• Information technology.
• Digital literacy.

Our Computing Long Term Plan outlines how each taught unit covers the requirements of the National Curriculum attainment targets as well as each of these three strands. 

Kapow Primary's Progression of skills shows the skills that are taught within each year group, and how these skills develop year on year to ensure attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.

The Kapow Primary scheme is organised into five key areas, creating a cyclical route through which pupils can develop their computing knowledge and skills by revisiting and building on previous learning:

• Computer systems and networks
• Programming
• Creating media
• Data handling
• Online safety

The implementation of Kapow Primary Computing ensures a broad and balanced coverage of the National curriculum requirements, with opportunities for pupils to learn and apply transferable skills. Pupils will be applying their learning in other subjects such as Science, Art and Music to embed and celebrate cross-curricular, meaningful learning.

Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as unplugged and digital activities. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with a variety of learning styles. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed by all pupils and opportunities to stretch pupils' learning are available when required. Knowledge organisers for each unit support pupils in building a foundation of factual knowledge by encouraging recall of key facts and vocabulary.

Strong subject knowledge is vital for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective and robust computing curriculum. Each of the Kapow Primary Computing units include teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD.