Device in Primary Schools

It would depend on the laptop, for me. My kids have their own laptops, and have since they were pretty small. But my work involves writing computer code, and I have loved coding since I was about 6 or 7, mainly because I had access to computers at a very young age (no worries about internet safety in the 80s!). I encourage my kids to learn coding with scratch (which they also do at school), and Minecraft Education edition. Computer use isn't all about spreadsheets and Word. I think exposure to coding at a young age is on a par with exposure to art, science and music. Some people will develop a love for it, and others won't. But learning it requires time and consistency - which means regular access to a computer.

A chimpanzee could probably learn how to use a computer in a couple of hours. A human certainly can. The idea that kids need to learn now so they’re prepared for adulthood is ridiculous. They need to demonstrate the benefits now, and that the benefits outweigh the costs and other downsides.

Our senior school said it's mandatory for year 10 and the laptop is £1,600! And it's not even a MacBook, it's some dell rubbish! The email was sent 2 weeks ago. Must by by September.

And it’s more “this is the way things are going” - engagement and having them ready for a tech world. Starting early etc.

Being able to use a device is quite simple and the bare minimum children need for the future. Schools don't teach tech stuff of actual value, it's a shame (not teachers fault but the gov should provide time and funding for this along with relevant people to teach it).

100% @whataloadoftoshasusual said

My school do this from year 3, but it’s an expensive international school, so money isn’t an issue for the parents. I absolutely HATE it, and there is nothing worse than walking past a classroom where the 8-year old students are sitting, silently like zombies on their iPads. It’s not unusual for 1 hour or more per day to be spent on devices. I understand it gives the classroom teachers a break and allows them to mark, prep etc. (We don’t employ TAs at my school) but it’s not for the benefit of the students.

There is no evidence that introducing devices at this age is beneficial, and I would personally never send my child to a school that required this. The overuse and reliance on devices and laptops is one of the reasons I won’t send my DC to my school.

OP, please push back and demand that the school provide proper (I.e. evidence based) reasons why they are doing this.

should of course be "we know best" not "we no best". 😵

Based on this and your subsequent "we no best" answers from the school I'd be opposing this. If their pitch is "you have this wonderful device after three years" then bear in mind that a basic chrome book or similar may be out of OS support in that time - they are not designed for long life.

Yes its the case that gamified times tables attract more initial attention than book based but that doesn't translate into "every child must have their own laptop?.

The idea that it will prepare them for work in ten years time is the least compelling. They have seven years of higher education after leaving primary, the interface devices people will use in the workplace in ten years time are unlikely to be that similar to the current generation of basic chrome books.

So push back on something which is frankly discriminatory in favour of support for a model of shared devices as described above. I would not be complying with this - it sounds like someone has done a good sales pitch to the school.

Our PTA recently fundraised and paid for 30 devices including a docking station on wheels that can be transported easily throughout the school. Classes now take turns in using them. Could you suggest this as an alternative?

I was on our PTA for years. They once asked for a donation for classroom tables. Fixtures and fittings of the school, so we refused to fund.

They asked later for fundraising for a full class set of cheapo laptops which could be used by all children for various tasks across the school. Not essential and an enhancement to their education, so we fundraised for this.

If a school is insisting that their lessons can only be delivered via device then they must provide them, or provide paper alternatives. Remember lockdown, when some schools were attempting online learning? I was one of the staff that was photocopying work packs and sending them out for our families who didn't have devices or home Internet. Schools have to provide an alternative that makes the learning accessible to all (including homework that doesn't have to be done online)

This is sad, there are more ways to engage children than on a laptop at that age. If the school see them as vital though they'll have to provide them.

I wouldn't mind IT in primary schools so much if the children actually had IT lessons of value rather than just shifting stuff over that could and should be done offline.

This.

Do you own the device and the licensed software on it at the end of the payment period? That model sounds like a standard business rental type model where for a flat fee per month a third party provides hardware, software, maintenance etc and it will often be locked down so that you can't add your own software. Normally the school would pay this leasing fee, so are they asking parents to replace core budget due to cuts or is this different?

What is their "business" case for doing this? Are they unable to access core curriculum without the devices, can they show specific educational benefits to the children or is it a fuzzier "everyone is doing it" or "this is how things are going" type reason? If its the latter, I'd ask them to revisit the whole idea before loading up parents with extra debt at the moment.

What would be the impact of delaying device allocation until yr 5, thereby having to fund a shorter leasing period and give people more time to find the money?

Ridiculous!
1.Primary aged kids don't need to do their work on a laptop.
2.£500 for a laptop which is going to be used for what? Word processing? Accessing the internet? Way too expensive for basic needs
3.Why do you need to buy it from the school? Sounds like a money making project. You could easily get a suitable second hand laptop from ebay for around £100

But I guess if they have them it's easier to use generic lessons, online learning and close the school for a day or two a week.

My daughters secondary school require laptops we only pay towards the insurance for it. If it is an educational necessity then it is about the school budget. It's not a necessity at all, is it.

If primary children aren't on a laptop they almost certainly won't be outside instead. Mine go on Times Table Rockstars, for example, if they finish 5 minutes early. My results are way above national average in a class with 75% pupil premium. The alternative would be a printed worksheet of times tables.

So… kids that are statistically likely to already be the ones who are struggling will have to share equipment and inevitably get distracted and not focus; while everyone else plays on laptops.

This sounds like a disaster.

I would be asking the school to provide research into the educational benefits to children having a 1:1 device. There is little research to show that it has a big enough/or any impact on attainment (bar engagement which drops off as they get used to it).
yes it’s fun and you can do some interesting things but at primary school there is no need imo for 1:1 devices - the evidence isn’t there.
What we do have evidence of is that reading things on a screen there is research that shows you take in less than if you read it on paper.
We live in a society where kids are more and more on technology and there are so many dangers and harms for them to navigate.
Safeguards are limited as you can lock it down as much as you can but it’s just not possible unless you block the internet.
Schools essentially should not be able to mandate putting an internet enabled device in a child’s bedroom.

There seems to be this push to make younger and younger children have a device without thinking through what the benefits and costs are. The school want it cause it reduces their paper costs but this should
Be about what is best for the children.

for primary age children we know that being outside, exercise and being away from tech is much better for their mental health.

No. On principle and for financial reasons. Firmly believe they are unnecessary and that access to education should be equal for all. What about those who have 3/4 kids and will need more than one laptop? Children do not need more tech and nothing in primary school warrants this.

If they're expensive and not everyone can afford it (and the school can't afford it) why not just not use them in the classroom? I wouldn't be paying that.

Your school is completely tone deaf to the current financial situation if the country.

People can't afford to eat, they are struggling with bills and mortgages have worn through the roof.

Not only are they asking you to find £500 for something you don't keep they are suggesting if you can't afford it you pay in instalments and they charge interest. So they actually make money from parents not able to afford it.

It would be a no from me and I'd be able to buy one for ds.