Technology and computing has become an important part of most people’s lives. We would like to ensure that all children in our school can become competent and confident users of ICT, ready for their adult life.
The curriculum has been updated to focus on ‘computing’ in line with the proposed new curriculum. The computing subject covers all objectives for the new national curriculum for Key Stage One, over Year One and Year Two. Planning in EYFS relates to the Development Matters document and the larger objective of ‘Understanding the World’. The computing curriculum has been designed to give the children breadth of understanding of technology using a variety of tools and equipment.
We have a commitment to ensuring we have equipment that is relevant to the age and stage of the children, and that we embrace and introduce new technologies where relevant. To enhance the curriculum the children are able to access a range of technology in the school including desktop computers in the computing suite, programmable toys and iPads for classroom and group use. Children are able to develop and progress their skills in computing each year to build on prior knowledge and skills they have been taught before.
We have a commitment as a school to ensure that all children are online-safe using technology and the internet. All classes have a poster displayed to promote the key tips for being online-safe. Each half term the children have an online-safety lesson during their computing slot to recap these tips and procedures.
Children across the school have enjoyed using a range of technology and can talk about how this technology can help their learning in other curriculum areas.
Computing Summer Term 2023
Year 1
This term, Year One have been creating our own e-books. The children have been using Purple Mash’s ‘2Create a Story’ feature to write and illustrate their own story. Firstly, the children created their characters and typed out their sentences. Then they animated their characters so that they could move as the story was read. The children also added sounds to bring their stories to life.
Year 2
This half term the children have focused on using technology to manipulate digital photography. The children have explored taking photos on their tablets and have done so for a variety of different stills/scenes. They have completed a photography bingo and have taken selfies, close up photos, action shots and pictures of landscapes. We spoke about taking landscape and portrait pictures. See some of the photographs they have taken below!
The children have also been discussing copyright/ownership, and how we have to have permission to share things online. We have spoken about what can, and cannot be shared.
Computing Spring Term 2023 – Infants
Year 1
Year 1’s focus this term has been moving a robot. The children have focused on learning about algorithms and have used this knowledge to move beebots both forward and backwards as well as making them turn to the left and the right. The children have explored debugging when there has been an issue when moving the beebots too.
The children have also enjoyed using their computing knowledge to complete a history task. The children used laptops to research information about a significant historical person, Neil Armstrong during their ‘Our Planet and Beyond’ topic.
Year 2
This term the children in year 2 have been learning about robot algorithms. They have learnt how to program a beebot to move around a floor mat. They have also designed their own mats for their beebots. We have thought about the different commands we can give the floor robots and made predictions about where the floor robot will finish after they have completed all the commands given. We have also been thinking about information technology and what it is and what and where it is used in our everyday lives.
Computing from the Autumn Term 2022
Reception
Reception pupils have been learning how to use a computer mouse to control a program. We have been using a drawing program on Purple Mash to learn how to control the mouse and click the mouse button to select a different colour. We have also been introduced to a programmable floor robot called a Beebot.
Year 1
Year 1 pupils have learned to log in to Purple Mash using their own username and password. Pupils have learned to keep their password secure and not tell anyone else. Pupils have explored the Tools area of Purple Mash and learned about the common icons used for Save, Print, Open, New.
Year 2
Year 2 have been learning how stop-animation works by taking a series of still photos and putting them together to make a video. During English lessons, pupils wrote a set of instructions how to take a series of photos of their ‘superhero puppet’. In Computing, pupils use a tablet app to create a stop-motion video, according to their instructions.
Computing from the Spring Term 2022
Reception
Reception pupils have been learning how to use a computer mouse to control a program. We have been using a drawing program on Purple Mash to learn how to control the mouse and click the mouse button to select a different colour. We have also used various programs to learn help us with our Maths and English lessons.
Year 1
In the Spring term, Year 1s have been learning all about grouping data. Pupils learned to use labels to sort objects into the correct groups. Pupils then had to decide on their own categories to sort the data in to groups. Finally, pupils were to answer questions about data they had sorted.
Year 2
The children in Year 2s were technology to manipulate digital content by making simple animations. The classes have read the ‘The Storm Whale’ by Benji Davies and the children used the animation program 2create to draw pictures to go with the story. Some children even added in animations and voice clips.
Computing from the Summer Term 2021
Reception
This term the children in Reception has their first session in the computing suite! They were very excited and concentrated really well on listening carefully. The children learnt to use a mouse and click and hold to draw a picture on purple mash. Some of the children even learnt to use the menu to select a clean page!
Year 1
This term the children have become more confident with navigating the programs on Purple Mash. In pairs they have used ‘create a story’ to write and illustrate their own short books. The theme of their books was ‘Step back in time’ (our topic for the second half of this term) and the children thought about an event in History that had taken place. The children used sentences, pictures and sound effects to make their books interesting for the reader. The children demonstrated excellent teamwork and perseverance. They enjoyed sharing their completed stories with each other and were keen to make more books in the future!
Year 2
The children in year 2 have enjoyed making their own artwork portfolio using Purple Mash. During our Art Around the World topic, the children have created many fantastic pieces of artwork and because we can’t have people in school to see our fantastic work, they have created their own online portfolio’s to share with their friends and family at home. It involved the children having to create a front cover introducing their portfolio and then a new page and write a summary for each piece of artwork. The children had to take photos of their artwork and import the photos from their tablet. Their Portfolios are now ready to view by logging into their Purple Mash accounts from home.
Computing from the Spring Term 2021
This term, the children across the Infant School have really had to extend their computing skills as it has enabled them to be able to take part in their remote learning. The children have had to learn how to use Microsoft Teams, how to put their ‘teams hand up’ and how to mute and unmute themselves to answer questions as well as navigating through different teams that they are on for assemblies and interventions. We are so proud with how all of the children have coped and good they have been at adapting to online learning.
Both year 1 and year 2 have been completing their spelling using Purple Mash as well as using Oxford Owl and the Active Learn Bug club to help with their reading.
The children in year 2 have used Purple Mash to explore algorithms this term. They have created their own algorithms using 2code and have been able to debug any errors that occur.
They also linked their computing work to their English story of ‘The Storm Whale’. They retold the story using 2create a story and added in pictures to improve their mouse skills and some children even added in animations and voice clips.
Computing in the Autumn Term
Computing in the EYFS
The Reception children have been using a range of different technology to develop their computing skills. They have been using the interactive screens to mark make as well as helping to develop their mouse and keyboard skills. The children have also been using programs such as www.phonicsplay.co.uk to help with hearing initial sounds and blending words. Some children have even been playing games to help them with their counting!
Computing in Key Stage 1
Computing has looked a little different for the year 1 and 2 children this term. They have been lucky enough to have been allocated their own tablet for their computing sessions. It has been good for the children to learn how to use a different and new device and to learn about logging in and turning their tablets on and off.
So far they have used their tablets to access purple mash and complete set 2do tasks by their teachers including creating their own algorithms, using 2paint and spelling games.
The year 2 children have also been able to use their tablets in other areas of the curriculum including using phonics play as well as making their own stop animation stories in English and RE.
Computing in the Autumn Term
Reception
The children Reception have been using a range of different technology to develop their computing skills. They have been using the interactive screens to mark make as well as helping to develop their mouse and keyboard skills. The children have also been using programs such as www.phonicsplay.co.uk to help with hearing initial sounds and blending words. Some children have been exploring the use of different technologies such as cameras and smart watches!
Year 1
The year 1 children have been creating their own simple algorithms (a clear and precise set of instructions for a computer). They have learnt how to follow algorithms as well as writing their own using positional language.
Year 2
During the autumn term, the year 2 children have enjoyed making their own stop animation movies using the kindles. Their short stories were based on their own superhero and were planned during literacy lessons which involved the children having to establish a setting, props and dilemma. The children really enjoyed filming them and using the stop animate app.
The children have also started to use Purple Mash to improve their maths and spelling skills. Remember to use your login to access it at home too and use the link below:
Computing Summer Term 2023
Year 3
In the Summer term, Year 3 have covered stop-motion animation and branching databases. The Year 3s loved taking a sequence of pictures
To make a branching database, pupils first learned how to ask specific yes/no closed questions. We then looked at the characteristics that we could sort our data into. Pupils then created a paper branching database where they physically sorted pictures of animals with different characteristics such as diet, colour or habitat. Finally pupils transferred this branching database to our online software on J2E.
Year 4
We have been learning digital photo editing and using an online software called Pixlr.com. We have loved learning how to upload a photo, crop an image and change filters to make it look really interesting!
Year 5
The children enjoying using micro:bits, which is a small device that can be plugged into a laptop. The children have learned to write algorithms to programme the micro:bit, in order to get an output in the micro:bit in the form of a LED display, or a sound.
We have also studied Systems, learning about the computer processes behind things we may take for granted, such as how sensors instruct zebra crossings, and the system involved when we place an order at home on a device, and then collecting it a few days later at an Amazon locker. The children have also investigated searching on the World Wide Web, using two different search engines to find results for simple search terms such as ‘boot’, ‘sale’ and ‘rugby’, and learning how to refine a search to find more exact results.
Year 6
Year 6 been concentrating on online safety this half term in preparation for moving to High School We have been using the online platform Project Evolve to focus on health, well-being and lifestyle, copyright and ownership and privacy and security.
Computing Spring Term 2023 – Juniors
Year 3
This term we have been building on the concept of sequence as ‘a set of instructions read from beginning to end’ whilst learning the fundamentals of the Scratch coding platform. We have opened example programs and explored how a sequence of blocks will make a Sprite move across the stage. Pupils have been writing a program to move a Sprite around a maze with arrow key inputs and they have worked hard to debug any errors in their sequence of code.
Year 4
In Year 4 pupils have explored how a repeating sequence of instructions can be grouped together and repeated several times as a loop. We then looked more deeply at different types of loops: infinite loops that run forever and count-controlled loops that run for a given amount of time.
Year 5
In Spring, Year 5 have been focusing on coding as well as using data bases. When coding, we used Scratch to make a questionnaire. The children worked with their partners to use condition and selection. When using databases, the children were able to filter data numerically, as well as alphabetically. They were able to search databases to filter data about mini beasts and dinosaurs. The children were able to explain that computer databases were much easier to sort as opposed to paper data bases.
Year 6
Year 6 have been working on Spreadsheets. We used MS Excel to input data, write formulas and copy the formula across to fill in cells. We have also used the data and formulas to complete different input and outputs from this.
Computing from the Autumn Term 2022
Year 3
Year 3 have been learning about types of inputs and outputs. They have also been learning about how digital devices are connected to a network. Finally, they went on a network hunt and found various devices connected to our local school network, including finding our school server and network switch!
Year 4
Pupils in Year 4 have been learning more about how local networks are connected together to form the internet (a network of networks). Pupils then learn that the World Wide Web is a part of the internet where we can visit web pages and websites. Pupils also discuss some digital citizenship advice on who owns the content that we see on the World Wide Web.
Year 5
Year 5 have been using their word processing skills to create their own blogs online this half term. First pupils learned the importance of creating a strong password and keeping it secure. Then pupils thought of their own online safety messages they would like to share with the world. They are being published in each class’ own blog!
Year 6
Pupils in Year 6 have been extending their word-processing skills by planning to create and publish class websites that will showcase their current learning.
Computing from the Spring Term 2022
Year 3
Pupils in Year 3 have been learning the computer science concept of ‘sequence’ in their coding lessons. Pupils used the block-based platform Scratch to design a sequence of code to move a Sprite (character) around a background using input from a keyboard.
Each class also had a 1-hour lesson delivered by Mr Skilton, a teacher from Dereham Netheard High School, on behalf of the Digital Schoolhouse project. In this lesson, each class had a go at following a set of instructions in a sequence to make a face using Play-doh. The pupils had lots of fun!
Year 4
Pupils in Year 4 have been creating digital content to accomplish a goal. They have been using an online photo-editing software called Pixlr to digitally manipulate photographs and text to fit the brief of a creating a book cover for their English myth story. Pupils have had a lot of fun learning to crop images, add layers to create a composition and use photo-editing effects to change the style of their final image.
Year 5
In Year 5, pupils have been learning how to store and search for data in a database. Pupils have learned what a record is and how records store several pieces of data in each of the fields. Pupils have learned how to sort the records by the field name to make searching a database much easier. Finally, pupils have asked real-world questions about the data stored in their database.
Year 6
Year 6 have been learning to store and analyse data in a spreadsheet. Pupils have learned about the different types of data that can be stored in each cell of a database, such as words, numbers, dates, images and sounds. When creating their own spreadsheet, pupils needed to ensure that their data was in the correct format (eg for a time period). Pupils then learned how to reference a cell containing data when they wrote a calculation in MS Excel to perform multiplication.
Computing from the Autumn Term 2021
Year 3
This half term we carried on our unit on ‘Connecting Computers’. We learnt about different digital devices and compared digital apps and programs to their real-life equivalents such as word-processing and Paint software. We learnt about how computers are connected and networks and had a lot of fun being a ‘virtual’ network, where we passed messages from one device (person) to another through other devices (people). We learnt how a network switch can make this task more efficient.
Year 4
This half term we have been learning the computer science concept of ‘sequence’ and understanding this means being careful to put the order in which things are done. We have had lots of fun learning the block code language, Scratch. We have been careful to program the blocks one after the other to make the correct sequence for the computer to understand and execute. We have used the knowledge of sequencing to create a game that uses inputs from a keyboard to control a Sprite to move around a maze and to draw a line.
Year 5
Year 5 have been using their word processing skills to create their own blogs online this half term.
Year 6
This term we have been working on coding. We gave clear instructions, known as algorithms. We focused on repetition, selection and conditional selection. We used Purple Mash to complete set activities to practise using the algorithms and using different variables to complete different tasks. We created our own games involving the variables such as timers and directions through Purple Mash. We then looked at and focused on Online Safety and how to keep others and ourselves safe online. We reflected on our screen time use and how this can affect our wellbeing.
Computing Spring 2021
Year 3
Geography and computing
This half term Year 3 have investigated the local area by researching information about Dereham using search engines on the internet. We have also explored symbols used in a key on a map to represent important human and physical features and found such features on a map of our local area. We then presented the information we wished to share about Dereham in a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation created in our pairs.Year 4
In the Spring term, while the children were taking part in remote lessons, the focus for learning was E-safety. The children began by evaluating websites then they considered which aspects of internet safety were the most important. To round off the topic, the children could choose to design a poster or leaflet for someone younger than themselves to display all their new E-safety knowledge.
Our latest series of lessons have involved using 2DIY3D on purple Mash, a program which enables the children to create their own game. The activities included creating 2 levels of a game, creating hazards, designing the features of the game and finally writing a set of instructions for others to play the game
Year 5
We have enjoyed learning about spreadsheets, especially how to use formulas. We have been using the spreadsheets to check some calculations which we had also done mentally.
In Spring 2, the focus has been staying safe online. Specifically, the children have been learning about copyright and plagiarism as well as looking at fake websites and designing their own!
Year 6
During the Spring Term Year 6 have been learning about Spread sheets. The children learnt how to create a spreadsheet for an event and put in data into it. The children manage to do this at home as part of their online learning. This half term we are doing blogging which is proving very enjoyable, this is being done on Purple Mash.
Autumn 2020
Year 3
The children in year 3 have been working on coding, providing specific and detailed instructions to make a car move. We used Purple Mash to complete the tasks and after a lot of perseverance we successfully made our vehicles do what was expected of them.
Year 4
In the Autumn term, the children in year 4 began their computing lessons by taking part in Dance Mat Typing. The aim of this programme was to improve and develop their keyboard typing skills.
After this, the children had great fun learning to send and receive emails to and from each other. These lessons taught the children how to include an email address, how to add a subject and an attachment. Later in the term, the children enjoyed a series of lessons using Scratch. This enabled the children to create programs by dragging blocks of instructions to make animations move. The children were able to think creatively and reason systematically.
Year 5
The children in year 5 were busy in the Autumn term becoming more familiar with using their blogging page. They have loved using this as a way of communicating with each other both in class and when at home. The children can like posts as well as leave comments. They love to see how many people have gone onto the blog and from where about in the world. Click on the links below to have a look!
http://toftwoodar52020.creativeblogs.net
http://toftwoodrl52020.creativeblogs.net
http://toftwoodsj52020.creativeblogs.net
The children also created their own stop motion films! Some chose to include their Viking ships that they had recently created in DT. They learned out to create a story using photos and thought carefully about how to show if a character is moving quickly or slowly.
Year 6
This term we have been working on coding, giving clear instructions, known as algorithms. We used Purple Mash to complete set activities to practise using the algorithms and using different variables to complete different tasks. This culminated in the children creating their own games involving the variables such as timers and directions through Purple Mash. We then looked at and focused on Online Safety and how to keep others and ourselves safe online.
Neatherd Computing
Adam Gibson, Head of Computer Science at Dereham Neatherd High School has been running free and informative CPD workshops based on delivering Computing. These provide learning opportunities’ for pupils and CPD for teachers based around delivery of Computing. Toftwood Junior School has benefitted from regular Wednesday afternoon sessions for Years 3 to 5.The focus of certified Schoolhouse workshops, as part of Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse programme, is to help empower and inform teachers in the delivery of Computing.
Throughout the workshops, we have taken pupils and teachers through various elements of Computing, for example computational thinking and algorithms. We have also incorporated simple play-based learning techniques, which have engaged pupils and helped teachers to deliver complex topics using familiar classroom resources.
Digital Schoolhouse is delivered by the UK games industry trade body, Ukie. It was originally seed funded by the Mayor of London’s Schools Excellence Fund (LSEF) and is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The programme is powered by Nintendo Switch®, sponsored by SEGA, Warwickshire Council and Ubisoft, to offer schools the support and professional development they need without cost. In turn, helping to prepare the next generation with the digital skills they need for their future.
Spring 2018
Year 3 have been working on their word processing and typing skills. They have used dance mat typing to help them learn how to type correctly and consolidated their learning from Literacy and their topic by typing up non-chronological reports and creating posters.
They have been continuing to learn about coding using the code4life website and writing code and algorithms to direct a vehicle.
Year 4 have also been developing their word processing and typing skills. They have been using Scratch to learn how to manipulate sprites to begin creating a game. The children then used PowerPoint to create presentations on the Islamic Pilgrimage and used iPads to create movie trailers!
Year 5 have been concentrating on improving their typing speed by using touch typing skills and creating spreadsheets. The children have used their spreadsheets and know how to complete calculations using the ‘auto sum’ function.
Year 6 have continued to develop their typing skills and have created music using the Garage Band app. The children have also extended their spreadsheet knowledge and have presented data in different ways, such as in numerical or graphical form. The children have also created PowerPoints following their Holt Hall residential trip.
