Starting with the programme of study

The programme of study gives a clear list of the content that should be covered in each Key Stage, to which you might like to add further elements of your own. One advantage of using the programme of study as your starting point is that it’s relatively easy to translate the content into specific objectives, because it’s clear what needs to be covered, and when.

In planning a scheme of work, it’s sensible to look for themes that can provide a structure, making it easier to ensure progression and continuity over the time a pupil is at primary school.

Perhaps the most obvious set of themes is computer science, information technology and digital literacy. You could further divide the computer science aspect into Programming and Other elements of computer science. The ‘foundations, applications, implications’ characterisation of these elements would provide a similar overall structure.

Another approach identifies six aspects: Coding, Computer science, Networks and the Internet, Communication and collaboration, Creativity and Productivity. This leads to a half-termly grid, with each aspect being the focus for half a term.

A fourth option might be to look beyond the computer science/information technology/ digital literacy taxonomy to broader themes across the subject. Dividing the curriculum into Computational thinking, Design and Criticality and responsibility would be one approach.

Whichever themes you select, revisiting these areas in each year can ensure both continuity and progression for pupils, and make it easier to plan individual units of work. There should be a clear sense of what pupils have already experienced, and what subsequent steps in learning are likely to involve. A whole-school programming strand might look something like this.

Year 1 Solving problems with Bee-Bots
Year 2 Turtle graphics on the floor and screen
Year 3 Scripted animations
Year 4 A maths quiz
Year 5 Computer games
Year 6 Developing applications for the mobile phone

The above is intended for illustration only. It’s important to remember that the focus is on developing an understanding of programming, rather than developing skills in using just one programming language. A similar sequence of half-termly units could be developed for other themes.