Coding
In our award-winning coding clubs, we teach children the fundamental skills of coding through a range of fun challenges. These skills underpin computer programming and, therefore, Computer Science as a discipline. Moreover, we draw our attainment targets from the national curriculum ensuring that everything the children learn in our clubs will directly impact their progress at school and will give them essential skills for their futures.
How do our coding lessons work?
Each half term, we teach a new coding module with a different coding platform but keep focussing on the same fundamental skills. This keeps the children’s engagement high and also helps them transfer their coding skills across different media.
There are two main types of platforms which we use. Firstly, we use game-based platforms (such as: Code.org, Tynker, Kodables and Codespark) where children complete a series of progressively challenging tasks within a specific coding concept. Then we use project-based platforms (such as: Scratch, Hopscotch, Codesters and Makecode) where children put their coding concepts into practice by building a game, movie or a virtual installation. Wherever possible, we try to use subscription free coding platforms so that the children can continue their learning after the module.
What languages do we teach?
The main coding language that we use is Blockly. This is a simplified coding language which allows children to drag and drop pre-written lines of code into workspaces. It’s an incredibly powerful way to teach coding as it’s very forgiving, unlike script coding which simply won’t run if there is even a tiny mistake in the syntax. That said, we do have modules in Python, JavaScript and HTML, where the children can get the feel of what coding syntax looks like. However, our main focus is teaching the skills of coding, rather than a specific coding language.
What are the coding skills that the children learn?
The overarching concepts of coding are: sequencing, iteration, selection and variables. Within these concepts we’ll also learn about If statements, events, condition-controlled loops, functions and sprites. These things may sound like another language, but they are relatively easy to grasp which is why we start teaching coding to children aged 5.
Our Managing Director, Matthew Pereira, has
put together a short lecture explaining how
coding within schools works to help teachers,
parents and tutors who want to have a better
understanding of how to support pupils.
How can I support my child’s learning?
Firstly, find out what they are learning in the breakdown of this term’s modules below. You’ll find links to the activities which they’ll be doing as well as clips to help you understand the key concepts. Ask your child to demonstrate and explain what they have learnt in our classes by using the links provided. This will help them consolidate their learning and will support their retention. Don’t jump ahead of the classes though! Otherwise, your child will end up repeating an activity in our class.
Finally, you can also follow us on social media where you’ll find pictures of the children completing their challenges and talking about what they have learnt. We’ll also post a #AskYourChild: question, which may encourage them to articulate their learning.