At Smithdown Primary, we believe the use of information and communication technology is an integral part of the National Curriculum, a key skill for everyday life and vital for a successful future for our children. Computers, tablets, programmable robots, digital and video cameras are a few of the tools that can be used to acquire, organise, store, manipulate, interpret, communicate and present information. In an evolving world where technology is at the heart, we aim to develop enthusiasm in computational thinking and confidence in using the latest technologies for a range of purposes.
We are fortunate to have Mr Triggs from MGL work alongside our teachers to deliver our KS2 curriculum; providing a range of challenging computing activities.
Due to the cohort of children at Smithdown, we intend to shape our Computing curriculum to the children’s skills at the time which will differ from year to year. Thus, our teachers have the ownership to explore skills that may not have been embedded prior to their own year group.
At Smithdown, it is paramount that children are confident users of technology, including the internet, whilst exploring it safely. As a school, we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our children which includes online safety.
Online Safety
The Internet is an amazing place. Our pupils can play, create, learn and connect – the possibilities are endless. But there are also risks. Therefore we regularly discuss the importance of online safety with our pupils and they have all agreed to follow our acceptable use policy. Please click on the links below for copies of these documents.
Key stage 1 Acceptable Use Policy
Key stage 2 Acceptable Use Policy
Online Safety Newsletters Autumn 2023
October 2023 November 2023
Please click on the links below to find out more about our curriculum:
Whole-school-Computing-Overview-2023-2024
National Curriculum for Computing
Progression in Computing
Please click here to see the coverage of skills and progression across all year groups in: Computer Science, Information Technology and digital literacy.
This afternoon Year 5 have continued to explore how we can code a Micro:bit. Today we looked at how to set and change the brightness of the LED lights on the Micro:bit when a button was pressed. Children then created code for it to display a sequence of different images.
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This afternoon Year 6 have continued to look at Python coding using Edublocks. Today children used lists, logic, loops, variables, and math to get a “turtle” to create a pattern with whilst changing colours after a number of turns.
This afternoon Year 5 completed a coding activity on Hour of Code. Children used blocked coding to create images and animations. Children focused on the positioning of their shapes as well as inserting different blocks to make their code more efficient. Children then had to debug their code to makesure it works.
Year 6 this afternoon continued to look at Python coding. Children used If statements and variables to create a program that drew a shape in a particular colour by asking questions.
Wednesday afternoon Year 5 have continued to explore Mico:bits. Children used variables, If statements and Inputs to get a Micro:bit to play Rock, Paper & Scissors.
We reviewed our favourite photographs and discussed the impact the darkness or light had on our pictures #smithdowncomputing
In computing we took photographs in dark places. We then spoke about lighting, used torches and other light sources to improve our pictures #smithdowncomputing
We are loving our computing topic – photography! Today we thought about what makes a good photograph and had to capture a range of different images using different criteria. #smithdowncomputing
We then went back to class and reviewed our work
We started our new computing topic and became photographers this week. We played photography bingo and experimented with different subjects #smithdowncomputing
