Digital Literacy KS2

Digital Literacy in Key Stage 2 (Years 3 - 6)

At KS2, digital literacy builds on foundational skills and focuses on independent, safe, and critical use of technology. Pupils develop the ability to evaluate information, create purposeful digital content, and understand their responsibilities in online environments.

The curriculum aligns with the National Centre for Computing Education, integrating:

Computer Science

Digital Literacy (with a strong emphasis on cyber safety)

Information technology

Digital literacy is embedded across subjects and supports pupils in becoming confident digital citizens.

What does digital literacy look like in KS2?

Pupils in year 3-6 will:

• Use a range of devices and platforms independently and purposefully
• Select appropriate software for tasks
• Search for information effectively using keywords and filtering
• Evaluate the reliability and bias of online content
• Save, organise, and retrieve work across platforms
• Understand and apply basic troubleshooting strategies
• Collaborate using digital tools

Creating and applying knowledge

Digital Literacy in KS2 emphasises meaningful content creation

• Create presentations combining text, images, audio, and video
• Use data handling tools to analyse information
• Design and evaluate digital projects for a specific audience
• Develop simple programs and understand how digital systems work
• Apply digital tools across the curriculum

Cyber safety and online responsibility

Cyber safety is a central strand of KS2 learning. Pupils are taught to:

• Understand what personal data is and how to protect it
• Create and manage secure passwords
• Recognise risks such as: phishing, scams, fake websites, inappropriate content
• Understand digital footprints and long-term impact of online actions
• Know hoe to report concerns and seek help
• Use privacy settings appropriately

Pupils also explore:

• The difference between public and private information
• Safe communication online
• Respectful and responsible online behaviour

Critical thinking and media literacy

Pupils develop the ability to:

• Question the accuracy of online information
• Identify misinformation and disinformation
• Recognise persuasive design e.g. advertising, influencers
• Compare multiple sources before forming conclusions

This supports the wider curriculum goals in reading, writing, and reasoning.

Building skills for the future

Digital literacy supports

• Problem solving and logical thinking
• Creativity and innovation
• Collaboration and communication
• Resilience when using technology

These skills prepare pupils for KS3 computing and wider digital participation

Working in partnership with families

We encourage families to:

• Support safe technology use at home
• Discuss online experience regularly
• Reinforce cyber safety messages
• Use parental controls where appropriate
• Promote a balanced and healthy use of technology

How Digital Literacy links to the NCCE curriculum

By the end of KS2, pupils should be able to:

• Use technology safely and respectfully and responsibly
• Recognise acceptable / unacceptable behaviour online
• Identify a range of ways to report concerns
• Select, use, and combine software to accomplish goals
• Analyse and evaluate digital content
• Understand key concepts of online safety and cyber security

Key shift from KS1- KS2

• KS1: Awareness and basic use
• KS2: Independence, evaluation, and responsibility