The Computing curriculum at Deanesfield Primary School is designed to enable our pupils to embrace and utilise new technologies through the application of essential knowledge, principles and concepts.  Pupils must be equipped to operate in a rapidly changing workplace and to be prepared for the career opportunities that will be open to them.

Lessons taught by a specialist teacher take children on a journey that begins in the early years, where children first learn to tap, swipe and type their way to what they want to achieve through to year 1-6 continuously underpinned by the principles of keeping safe online, at an age-appropriate level. 

Technology is everywhere and will play a pivotal part in students' lives, therefore, we want to model and educate our pupils on how to use technology positively, responsibly and safely. We want our pupils to be creators not consumers and our broad curriculum encompassing ‘Core skills’, ‘Digital creativity,’ ’Coding’ and ‘Online Safety’ reflects this. We want our pupils to understand that there is always a choice with using technology and as a school we utilise technology to model positive use. We recognise that the best prevention for a lot of issues we currently see with technology and social media is through education and therefore online safety underpins all our lessons. The curriculum is under continual review and is fluid so if changes need to be made, they are implemented quickly. 

Technology including chromebooks, PCs and iPads provides accessibility opportunities for our pupils and also allows them to share their learning in creative ways. Our knowledge rich curriculum has to be balanced with the opportunity for pupils to apply their skills creatively which will in turn help our pupils become proficient computer scientists.

Computing skills are taught explicitly at Deanesfield, with every pupil receiving a weekly dedicated computing lesson. Each half-term includes an element of online safety, core skills and digital creativity activities. The skills acquired are then embedded throughout the curriculum in all subjects. Online Safety lessons are taught regularly, and some of these activities will be reinforced via RSE lessons and during in-class assemblies. We want our pupils to be fluent with a range of tools to best express their understanding and hope that by Upper Key Stage 2, children have the independence and confidence to choose the best tool to fulfil the task and challenge set by teachers.