Sparken Hill Academy
Computing
Computing
Technology is everywhere and will play a central part in our children's lives. We teach them to use it positively, responsibly, creatively and safely, and to understand how it works, not just how to use it.
Intent
Why we teach computing
Masters of technology, not slaves to it.
This is our vision for every child at Sparken Hill Academy.
In every unit, we ask the "why" behind the learning as well as the "how", and we encourage children to reflect on the impact technology has on their learning, their relationships and their wellbeing. Finding the right balance with technology is key to a good education and a healthy lifestyle, and it is a habit we want our children to carry into secondary school and beyond.
Confident and independent
Children use a wide range of tools and can choose the right tool for the task.
Understanding how it works
Children know how computers, networks and programs work, not just how to use them.
Thinking critically
Children know when AI and other digital tools are helpful, and when their own thinking matters most.
Implementation
How we teach computing
From September 2026, we follow the Teach Computing Curriculum, written by subject experts for the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). It is a spiral curriculum: key ideas are revisited every year in greater depth, so children build securely on what they already know. Every class has a discrete computing lesson each week, and each year group studies six units, one per half-term.
Four strands, revisited every year
Computing systems and networksWhat computers are, how their parts work together, and how networks and the internet let us search, communicate and collaborate.
Creating mediaCreating digital content: painting, photography, music, animation, video, desktop publishing, web pages and 3D models.
ProgrammingDesigning algorithms and writing programs, from floor robots and ScratchJr to Scratch and physical devices.
Data and informationCollecting, organising and presenting data, from pictograms to databases, data logging and spreadsheets.
Our units
Units are taught by year group, so they are the same every year. Colours show each unit's strand.
Year Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2 Year 1 Technology around us Digital painting Moving a robot Grouping data Digital writing Programming animations Year 2 IT around us Digital photography Robot algorithms Pictograms Making music An introduction to quizzes Year 3 Connecting computers Stop-frame animation Sequencing sounds Branching databases Desktop publishing Events and actions in programs Year 4 The internet Audio production Repetition in shapes Data logging Photo editing Repetition in games Year 5 Systems and searching Video production Selection in physical computing Flat-file databases Introduction to vector graphics Selection in quizzes Year 6 Communication and collaboration Webpage creation Variables in games Introduction to spreadsheets Sensing movement 3D modelling
Foundation Stage
In Nursery and Reception, children build the foundations for computing through play. They explore technology around them, give and follow simple instructions, use programmable toys such as Bee-Bots, and talk about how technology is used at home and in school.
How children learn to program
Lessons use practical, hands-on activities, "unplugged" tasks away from the screen, and plenty of talk, so that children can explain their thinking using the correct vocabulary. When learning to program, children read and understand code before they write their own:
- Predict
Look at existing code and predict what it will do.
- Run
Run the code to test the prediction.
- Investigate
Explore how the code works, line by line.
- Modify
Change the code to make it do something new.
- Make
Design and write a program of their own.
Computing skills are used across the curriculum too, for example designing a flood barrier in Tinkercad in Design and Technology.
Online safety
Keeping children safe online is a priority. Online safety is taught through our computing units and our PSHE curriculum, following the national framework Education for a Connected World. Children learn about:
- Reputation and relationshipsManaging their online reputation and their relationships with others.
- Recognising and reportingSpotting worrying content and knowing how to report it.
- Protecting informationKeeping their personal information safe.
- A healthy balanceBalancing screen time with other parts of a healthy life.
Impact
What children achieve
Children's progress is assessed at the end of each unit against the knowledge they are expected to know and remember. By the time they leave Sparken Hill Academy, our children are confident, creative and responsible users of technology.
Understanding technology
They understand how computers and networks work, and can write and debug simple programs.
Creative and capable
They use a range of software to create, present and share their work.
Safe and balanced
Most importantly, they know how to keep themselves safe online and how to find a healthy balance with technology.
Computing
Technology is everywhere and will play a central part in our children's lives. We teach them to use it positively, responsibly, creatively and safely, and to understand how it works, not just how to use it.
Why we teach computing
Masters of technology, not slaves to it.
This is our vision for every child at Sparken Hill Academy.
In every unit, we ask the "why" behind the learning as well as the "how", and we encourage children to reflect on the impact technology has on their learning, their relationships and their wellbeing. Finding the right balance with technology is key to a good education and a healthy lifestyle, and it is a habit we want our children to carry into secondary school and beyond.
Confident and independent
Children use a wide range of tools and can choose the right tool for the task.
Understanding how it works
Children know how computers, networks and programs work, not just how to use them.
Thinking critically
Children know when AI and other digital tools are helpful, and when their own thinking matters most.
How we teach computing
From September 2026, we follow the Teach Computing Curriculum, written by subject experts for the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE). It is a spiral curriculum: key ideas are revisited every year in greater depth, so children build securely on what they already know. Every class has a discrete computing lesson each week, and each year group studies six units, one per half-term.
Four strands, revisited every year
Computing systems and networks
What computers are, how their parts work together, and how networks and the internet let us search, communicate and collaborate.
Creating media
Creating digital content: painting, photography, music, animation, video, desktop publishing, web pages and 3D models.
Programming
Designing algorithms and writing programs, from floor robots and ScratchJr to Scratch and physical devices.
Data and information
Collecting, organising and presenting data, from pictograms to databases, data logging and spreadsheets.
Our units
Units are taught by year group, so they are the same every year. Colours show each unit's strand.
| Year | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Technology around us | Digital painting | Moving a robot | Grouping data | Digital writing | Programming animations |
| Year 2 | IT around us | Digital photography | Robot algorithms | Pictograms | Making music | An introduction to quizzes |
| Year 3 | Connecting computers | Stop-frame animation | Sequencing sounds | Branching databases | Desktop publishing | Events and actions in programs |
| Year 4 | The internet | Audio production | Repetition in shapes | Data logging | Photo editing | Repetition in games |
| Year 5 | Systems and searching | Video production | Selection in physical computing | Flat-file databases | Introduction to vector graphics | Selection in quizzes |
| Year 6 | Communication and collaboration | Webpage creation | Variables in games | Introduction to spreadsheets | Sensing movement | 3D modelling |
Foundation Stage
In Nursery and Reception, children build the foundations for computing through play. They explore technology around them, give and follow simple instructions, use programmable toys such as Bee-Bots, and talk about how technology is used at home and in school.
How children learn to program
Lessons use practical, hands-on activities, "unplugged" tasks away from the screen, and plenty of talk, so that children can explain their thinking using the correct vocabulary. When learning to program, children read and understand code before they write their own:
- Predict
Look at existing code and predict what it will do.
- Run
Run the code to test the prediction.
- Investigate
Explore how the code works, line by line.
- Modify
Change the code to make it do something new.
- Make
Design and write a program of their own.
Computing skills are used across the curriculum too, for example designing a flood barrier in Tinkercad in Design and Technology.
Online safety
Keeping children safe online is a priority. Online safety is taught through our computing units and our PSHE curriculum, following the national framework Education for a Connected World. Children learn about:
- Reputation and relationshipsManaging their online reputation and their relationships with others.
- Recognising and reportingSpotting worrying content and knowing how to report it.
- Protecting informationKeeping their personal information safe.
- A healthy balanceBalancing screen time with other parts of a healthy life.
What children achieve
Children's progress is assessed at the end of each unit against the knowledge they are expected to know and remember. By the time they leave Sparken Hill Academy, our children are confident, creative and responsible users of technology.
Understanding technology
They understand how computers and networks work, and can write and debug simple programs.
Creative and capable
They use a range of software to create, present and share their work.
Safe and balanced
Most importantly, they know how to keep themselves safe online and how to find a healthy balance with technology.
Computing: Whole School Journey
Masters of technology, not slaves to it.
We follow the NCCE Teach Computing Curriculum. Each year group studies six units, one per half-term, revisiting the same four strands in greater depth every year. Follow the road from Reception to Year 6.
Our four strands
- 🖥️Systems and networks
- 🎨Creating media
- 🧩Programming
- 📊Data and information
Y6
- Aut 1Communication and collaborationComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Webpage creationCreating media
- Spr 1Variables in gamesProgramming
- Spr 2Introduction to spreadsheetsData and information
- Sum 1Sensing movementProgramming
- Sum 23D modellingCreating media
Y5
- Aut 1Systems and searchingComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Video productionCreating media
- Spr 1Selection in physical computingProgramming
- Spr 2Flat-file databasesData and information
- Sum 1Introduction to vector graphicsCreating media
- Sum 2Selection in quizzesProgramming
Y4
- Aut 1The internetComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Audio productionCreating media
- Spr 1Repetition in shapesProgramming
- Spr 2Data loggingData and information
- Sum 1Photo editingCreating media
- Sum 2Repetition in gamesProgramming
Y3
- Aut 1Connecting computersComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Stop-frame animationCreating media
- Spr 1Sequencing soundsProgramming
- Spr 2Branching databasesData and information
- Sum 1Desktop publishingCreating media
- Sum 2Events and actions in programsProgramming
Y2
- Aut 1IT around usComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Digital photographyCreating media
- Spr 1Robot algorithmsProgramming
- Spr 2PictogramsData and information
- Sum 1Making musicCreating media
- Sum 2An introduction to quizzesProgramming
Y1
- Aut 1Technology around usComputing systems and networks
- Aut 2Digital paintingCreating media
- Spr 1Moving a robotProgramming
- Spr 2Grouping dataData and information
- Sum 1Digital writingCreating media
- Sum 2Programming animationsProgramming
YearR
Reception: the journey starts with exploring technology through play, giving and following simple instructions, and programming Bee-Bots.