Computing | King Richard III Infant and Nursery School

Computing

At King Richard III, our intent in teaching Computing is to empower young learners with foundational digital literacy and computational thinking skills, keeping our children safe online and being mindful of screen time. Our focus lies in making children literate in basic computing skills, including mouse skills and word processing, and nurturing their abilities as budding programmers. To assist our learning, we are committed to using elements of the Teach Computing KS1 scheme to engage students and provide them with the essential knowledge and problem-solving capabilities necessary in an increasingly digital world. Our curriculum is designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and a deep understanding of the basic principles that underpin the world of computing, laying a strong foundation for their future learning in the subject as they progress through their school life.

The content taught in our curriculum is split between four strands, with progression in each strand year on year. They are: Algorithms and Coding, Using Technology for a Purpose, Technology Around Us and E-Safety.

Central to our Computing curriculum is a dedicated focus on keeping children safe online. As part of this we aim to:

Instil in our students the importance of responsible and safe online behaviours, emphasising the significance of being respectful, kind, and aware whilst using digital platforms.
Teach children the basics of online security, including the importance of strong passwords, recognizing potential threats, and how to minimise these risks.
Encourage our students to practice safe internet habits, such as recognizing and reporting online bullying, understanding the implications of sharing personal information, and seeking adult guidance when facing online challenges.
Actively engage parents and caregivers in understanding and supporting their children's online activities, giving advice to help them create a safe online environment both at school and at home.

We are also acutely aware of the increasing amount of time that children in the UK spend on devices each day. To address this concern, we are aiming to:

Strive for a balanced approach to technology use, by aiming to remove unnecessary screen time and encourage activities that involve physical movement and social interaction.
Prioritising the quality of screen time over quantity, ensuring that digital resources are carefully selected and enhance the learning experience
Holding parent workshops to promote responsible and mindful screen time management at home.

By integrating these vital components into our Computing curriculum, we ensure that our students not only gain essential digital skills and online safety awareness but also learn to use technology mindfully and responsibly. Our children should leave King Richard III ready to begin their journey into an ever-more digital world.

Our Computing Curriculum

Games and activities to try at home

Nina and the Neurons

Bitesize - Computing

Scratch

Coding practice!