School providing e-books and no paper books for Reception

[Mummyoply]

My DS is in reception year and the school provide his reading books via an app and ask that children read them on an electronic device, iPad, phone or e-reader.

I have been purchasing the books, if the library don't have them (which they usually don't). This is too costly and also causes a delay, as by the time we get the book my DS has been moved on to another.

I guess my AIBU is, AIBU to refuse to allow him to read on a device and just provide books of the same level (from the library) so he can read a real book? I have emailed the school and message his teacher directly but had no response from either. I've even drawn a blank from the PTA.

But why?
The important thing is he's reading and enjoying reading.
I'm an old dinosaur and am getting used to a kindle and though I prefer a book book, the cost effectiveness, immediacy and environmental bonus of an e-reader aren't to be discounted.

It’s much cheaper in the long run for the school to provide e-books, they don’t get lost or damage or need to be replaced. I don’t see why you won’t let him read his school books on a device and then get him additional “real” books from the library or a shop.

Is the issue that you don't have a suitable device - in which case the school might be able to provide one - or just a general objection to technology?

I would hate it. Mine already have screen time with her Nintendo switch and tablet for watching Netflix/Disney/Cbeebies etc and games. As if I want her having even more screen time. For me, reading is a screen-free activity and usually about getting kids to spend less time looking at screens.

Our story-reading time is usually before bed, and we cuddle up and read together. She does her school books and then I read some from a chapter-book to her. I wouldn't want that time to be screen-time in bed.

It has nothing to do with the PTA, so no surprise you’ve had no luck there.

I would email the head as something like this is a change that will have been implemented by someone higher than the class teacher and it’s them that should defend the decision. Most likely, it will be to do with money.

Its fair that you would prefer you child to read real books and not use a device, I would feel the same, but if you enforce this you run the risk of making things harder for your your ds. It’s likely that whatever you are being asked to read on a device is part of a scheme, and if your ds doesn’t take part in it, it will hold him back. That’s a lot of books you’d have to find a hard copy of between now and him being a free reader, you will never keep up.

Can you afford a subscription to reading chest? Then you can read books at the right level. I'd read the school books as requested, but read paper books to supplement that.
My kids still prefer paper books. I'm wedded to my kindle, but I will borrow and buy paper books until they decide to move onto a device based system.

The phonics scheme we use specifies that the book should be read 3 times in school and then sent home. The idea is that the child will be reading it fluently by the time it comes home. If you give him an alternative, he won't be benefiting from the reading he's already done at school. It's worth asking why they've chosen to do it this way. I know I'm gutted by the number of books that have come back to school damaged, or not returned at all.

I don't know what I'd do in your situation. Give in, I suppose, even though I would be really unhappy about it!

I couldn't afford/find all the books they need in hard-copy. My DD is in Year 1 and they bring 3 reading books home and change them every week. One boom is at their level and it's working with the scheme the school uses, the second book is a book that will challenge them and is a level above their reading level, and the third book is one the child has chosen themselves from the school library.

Many schools are having to purchase expensive phonic schemes to meet government requirements. They cost thousands of pounds and have to be bought in their entirety or an annual subscription costing hundreds. Fir each scheme its usual to buy 8 copies of each book (children usually read in groups of 6 but the extra 2 are to account for list and damaged books). Now times that by the number of books a child will read YR-Y2 and you can imagine how expensive books are. A way to try and save money is by using ebooks. It's not ideal but schools have very limited funds.

We haven’t had a single paper book home since my child started school. I’ve subscribed to reading chest. Ebooks just don’t work for us.

I had a subscription to reading chest and it was brilliant. But I'll use that to supplement the school's reading. YABU to not use a tablet if you have one. They are getting a lot of maths homework via tablet apps too. And the amazon fire tablets don't work because they aren't on the apple or google app store.

Reading books, actual books is important. There is an order of reading direction to understand (which may be harder in ND children) and there is fine motor control in turning pages. The more children use fine motor control, the better stamina they have for developing writing.
So many children have spent too much of the past couple of years living a 2D experience on screens. Reading off backlit screens is more visual stress.

E-readers have their uses, but it's a bloody stupid policy to deprive new readers from access to books.

Annoyingly, you'll probably have to give in because of the volume of books children get through in the early stages of reading. Worth making you concerns known though.

It's really bad for their eyes.

I'd ask the Head for a list of the books they will need each term and order paper versions in advance.

@MintJulia It's not that easy. I have approximately 30 books that the children might read in one term - which one I give them depends on their progress, I wouldn't be able to tell you in advance.

@PAFMO

But why? The important thing is he's reading and enjoying reading. I'm an old dinosaur and am getting used to a kindle and though I prefer a book book, the cost effectiveness, immediacy and environmental bonus of an e-reader aren't to be discounted.

It's really damaging to children's eyes. There is a wealth of evidence that close up screen time causes myopia. It's also about the whole experience of handling the book, the versus a screen, reception children's brains are obviously still developing, they need multi-sensory learning. It's school not understanding the indications of digital, who can bale them, though, how would they know?

It'll be due to cost. School budgets are limited and can only go so far.

Whilst schools have to pay for the online e-library, it's still cheaper than how much buying multiple copes of the same books, across the entire school, will cost. We need more than one copy of many of the books, esp in the earlier books, for each class. When they go home many are not returned or get damaged, so have to be replaced.

Tbh I would complain using reasons mentioned in previous posts.
However I'd do what was asked but at the minimum level.
Longer term I'd just focus on reading being something done primarily outside of school with real books as tbh the school books and methods in our experience were not that engaging.

@PAFMO

But why? The important thing is he's reading and enjoying reading. I'm an old dinosaur and am getting used to a kindle and though I prefer a book book, the cost effectiveness, immediacy and environmental bonus of an e-reader aren't to be discounted.

It's because my DS is 4years old and I don't want him using electronic devices at this age, especially for reading.

I know screens are bad, I'm a teacher. But e-readers aren't screens in the computer-screen way.
Don't get me wrong, I still prefer books. But e-readers are a great leveller as books are far more affordable for everyone. I'd prefer some of our parents limit screen time by removing the Xbox or Nintendo rather than the Kindle tbh.

Myopia worries me as it is in my family.
Exposure to outdoor light seems to be a factor. Make sure young children are spending time outdoors in daylight.

@Coldilox

It’s much cheaper in the long run for the school to provide e-books, they don’t get lost or damage or need to be replaced. I don’t see why you won’t let him read his school books on a device and then get him additional “real” books from the library or a shop.

Yes I realise it's a cost issue, I am raising funds via the PTA and have suggested i do this to provide real books so the schools budget won't be impacted but the school don't seem keen.....

Why did you contact the PTA?

I assume it is to do with budgets.

Some of our local schools have had their book budgets cut to zero as they were in deficit budget. Complain to your MP

Children will still be experiencing paper-based books too. They will be reading books in school, and I assume most (I know not all) will be reading books at home too.

It won't be an either/or situation. It's in addition too.

If you're not happy you could just not read the book at home, or print out screen shots of each page to read at home.

If it's a money issue then I'm not sure how much complaining will do to solve the issue.

@busyeatingbiscuits

Is the issue that you don't have a suitable device - in which case the school might be able to provide one - or just a general objection to technology?

It's an objection to the use of technology

an objection to the use of technology

Print out screen shots of each page maybe, if it's a technology aversion but you do have one available.