Why Invest in a Primary Computing Scheme of Work?

Computing is a core subject under the National Curriculum, but technology changes very quickly and many teachers are not computing specialists. Add in the challenges of devices, networks, finding suitable resources, logging in to multiple sites, demonstrating progression and assessing learning, and computing can be a difficult subject to manage.

While free resources can seem like value for money at the time, do they really save your school in the long run, as well as provide the necessary skills for students?

The benefits of investing in a computing scheme

Cost isn't just financial: there's also the cost of teachers' time, and, most importantly, the cost to pupils' learning. A scheme brings resources and planning together rather than relying on a hodge-podge of materials from across the internet.

One scheme, all your computing tools in one place

Many schools will work across a range of free digital tools to teach their computing lessons, and listen, we totally get it -budgets are stretched to their max, but...

When you invest in Purple Mash, you also get the digital tools you need to teach what's mandated in the National Curriculum. In reality, this means:

• Knowing you'll have the right tool for the skills being taught
• All tools and resources are in one place
• Teachers spend less time learning different platforms and searching for suitable resources
• A familiar interface for children

This doesn't mean that children won't get to practise with industry-standard software: in the Purple Mash Computing Scheme, there are units of work for Microsoft, Apple and Google software in Years 5 and 6.

One login, less hassle

Using tools from different areas can mean multiple logins for teachers and pupils: one for lesson resources, another for coding, another for saving work and another for assessment.

With Purple Mash, teachers can access schemes, slides, activities, assessment and tracking tools from one account. Children can access the tools they need, create and save their work and share it with others from their own account.

Children can also access all the tools they need, create their work, and save it to their very own work area, all with one simple log in. They can also share this work via a link, QR code or on the parent portal for their parents to see.

Logging into Purple Mash couldn't be easier either. Schools can also use picture passwords, quick login inks and Single Sign On with Microsoft or Google.

A safer, more secure digital environment

Free, open-access tools can also introduce risks, from unfiltered user-generated content and advertisements to uncertainty around how pupils' information is collected and used.

When you've invested in a safe and secure digital learning platform - like Purple Mash - you're getting:

• Strict controls around who accesses the platform and the content that children can access
• No inappropriate advertisements or malicious links
• Fully GDPR-compliant data control with trained staff
• Greater visibility over children's work

Purple Mash also includes an award-wining Online Safety Scheme, 2BeSafe, which covers the Education for a Connected World framework.

Digital learning portfolios for pupils

If you're constantly trying to remember where children's work is saved, or screenshotting and pasting work into documents, a central work area can save teachers considerable time.

With Purple Mash, children get their own individual accounts and their own work area which can be organised into folders.

This work can be revisited, reviewed and assessed, as well as shared using a link or QR code, on a school blog or display board, or over the secure email system, 2Email (which schools have full control of).

Clear progression from Reception to Year 6

A computing scheme gives schools a full curriculum journey so it's much easier to show progression across different year groups.

For pupils, learning builds on previous knowledge rather than starting again each year, with opportunities to revisit and apply skills in new contexts. Teachers can see what pupils should already know, what they need to learn next, and where gaps or repetition might occur.

The Purple Mash Computing Scheme provides a long term planner, unit content overviews, knowledge organisers, progression of skills and knowledge documents, prior and future learning links and assessment resources meaning that progression is really clear for everyone involved.

There's also support available to those who would like to put together a more bespoke curriculum from the Purple Mash units. Free 1-1 chats are included, whether you need to look at mixed-age planning or fitting units into a tight timetable.

Less planning, more teaching

Although schools may save money using a free scheme and free tools, how much time are their staff then needing to spend developing planning, creating activities and finding tools to use? Then there's the time needed to create documents to go alongside the scheme:

• Assessment Trackers
• Progression of Skills Documents
• Knowledge Organisers
• Learning Mats

With Purple Mash, there's no need. All tools and resources are included, as well as plans and any other documents needed.

There's also a Computing Leaders Toolkit covering everything from audits and action plans to policies, surveys and self-evaluation.

Additionally, Purple Mash includes toolkits for other subject leaders, as well as an AI Toolkit and Climate Action Plan.

It's worth weighing up the financial cost vs the time cost. When investing in a Computing Scheme, you're not just buying resources - you're buying back teachers' time.

Dedicated support and CPD

A computing scheme can provide more than ready-made lessons and resources.

For schools where teachers aren't computing specialists, having access to ongoing support and professional development can make a real difference to their confidence in teaching the subject.

With Purple Mash, teachers and computing leaders have access to a range of support, including:

• CPD and training to build teachers' confidence and subject knowledge
• 1-to-1 free chats to help teachers make the scheme work for their particular timetable or curriculum
• Live webinars and training videos to get the most out of the platform
• Built-in tutorial videos, so teachers and pupils can quickly see how each tool works and get started independently

Digital learning beyond computing

For many schools, other subjects may have a higher budget priority. But what if your computing investment could support learning across the curriculum too?

Purple Mash isn't just a computing scheme; it's a whole digital learning platform. Teachers can use Purple Mash Library and 2Publish Plus in English, maths games and graphing tools in maths, videos and interactive resources in science, and a wide range of resources across geography, history, PSHE, art, music, RE and MFL.

This means your investment in computing can have a much wider impact across the school.

Is a computing scheme worth the investment?

A good computing scheme can help schools:

1. Deliver a structured, progressive curriculum.
2. Reduce teacher workload.
3. Give children access to appropriate digital tools.
4. Keep resources, accounts and pupil work together.
5. Give the school more value from its wider digital platform.

So while free resources may have no upfront cost, investing in a comprehensive computing scheme can offer something much more valuable: a structured curriculum, reduced workload, greater consistency and a digital platform that supports the whole school.

Want to see what a complete primary computing scheme looks like? Explore Purple Mash with a free trial.