We move in a rapidly shifting digital age and it is important that our children have a fluency and understanding of a range of systems, and how they can and should be utilised. Our progressive, well sequenced Computing curriculum provides pupils with a high-quality education that equips them with computational thinking, skills and knowledge, and the capacity to understand and enhance the evolving technological world.

We seek to ensure children are aware that, whilst computing offers a range of incredible and exciting ways to do things, there are also dangers; online safety is therefore integral to our teaching in this area so we can help ensure pupils have the necessary skills needed to stay safe online.

The computing curriculum at Preston Hedges is designed to develop knowledge, understanding and application of computing skills. We have segmented this into four key areas:

• Algorithms/Computer Science – this enables children to develop coding understanding, building from using logical reasoning to perform simple programming and debugging of floor turtles, to designing code in more sophisticated ways – such as using visual code in Scratch and Kodu to using script based code in Python.
• Information Technology (IT) – which progresses from children understanding how to search the internet and use websites, to evaluating information provided online, and understanding local and global networks and how to keep information secure.
• Digital Literacy – which enables children to use a range of software. We ensure children are grounded in everyday business software, and also make sure they utilise other exciting software – from recording podcasts, to music making, film production and games designing – we encourage literacy across a range of software applications.
• Online Safety – we support children to understand and appraise risks, teach them how to use online information safely and legally, and to evaluate the reliability of online content.

Through this creative computing curriculum children build breadth of knowledge and understanding of computing and safety so they can leave Preston Hedges as competent IT users, successfully able to interact with the world around them, and to draw upon the many benefits that IT can bring to our everyday and working lives for the future.

More than this, we also seek to engage the children with new, emerging and exciting technologies and topics. Our children create video games, become music and film producers, and use VR Headsets to travel the world. This ensures children are not just competent – they are excited, forward thinking users of technology.