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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Device in Primary Schools

62 replies

Ihearticecream · 05/07/2023 06:48

Hi, we are being told from year 4 we have to buy a mini laptop for our children to use in school and for their homework.
School openly admits we shouldn’t have to pay for it but the government are squeezing education and there’s no money but that this will help our children’s education and lead them into the future.

It costs about £500 including software and warranty for their three remaining years at Primary School. There are payment plans available, where interest is applied.
It will have appropriate safe guards and be monitored by the school.

We don’t feel we’ve been given much time to get used to the idea (essentially about six weeks from when they told us about it to the deadline to sign up).

It has split the year group as some think it’s amazing and others think it’s too expensive or they’re too young (children are currently 8 years old). But it’s an all or nothing where if not everyone or the majority sign up then no-one in this year can have it.

We know a lot of senior schools have a device and that seems to make more sense with various subjects in different class rooms and carrying it all around. It also means paying for one thing and then paying again at senior school (gov really should step in here).

AIBU to not know what to do?
What would mumsnetters do?

OP posts:
Theos · 05/07/2023 06:52

Where is this school? It sounds ludicrous

VisionsOfSplendour · 05/07/2023 06:55

I wouldn't pay even if I could afford it, I'd rather the whole class worked without than parents who couldn't afford it were made to pay such a ridiculous price for a non essentail

I accept that technology is everywhere in schools now but primarily age children can learn perfectly well without expensive individual devices

JunipeJuniper · 05/07/2023 06:59

That sounds like a lot. My school is fortunate to have tablets one between two for the whole school though, and it does make a huge difference being able to use them so easily, not having to book their use and fight other classes for them. They are just incorporated into a lot of lessons. We got them under strange circumstances and I know we're fortunate. I doubt as a school well will ever have the money to replace them. If it were a case of paying say £200 for my child to have that provision, I'd absolutely do it. £500 just seems far too high though - that's not what tablets/software cost if you buy a class set.

booktokbear · 05/07/2023 07:00

I know for my DS now nearly 11 , has used chrome books at school for the last two years and it's helped him so much with being able to get his work down (ADHD and Dyslexia) and I've only seen it as a positive but, and it's a big but, the chrome books are provided to each child by the school. Our county in Wales has made sure that each child in each primary gets them from year 4. Which is fantastic.

Unfortunately though the high school (DS starts sept) doesn't have the same facilities and won't let us provide our own. I'd do anything to be able to provide him with one it's that much of a help to him.

Your situation is obviously not going to be affordable for every parent in the class though and this seems a really bad way of doing things.

CaptainMyCaptain · 05/07/2023 07:06

VisionsOfSplendour · 05/07/2023 06:55

I wouldn't pay even if I could afford it, I'd rather the whole class worked without than parents who couldn't afford it were made to pay such a ridiculous price for a non essentail

I accept that technology is everywhere in schools now but primarily age children can learn perfectly well without expensive individual devices

This. It's ridiculous.

ithinkifeelaliveagain · 05/07/2023 07:32

thats crazy! How can they just expect everyone to suddenly come up with £500. Is this the first year that they’ve done this? In my area kids are all provided with a chrome book in p5 which they keep right though until the end of secondary.

Saracen · 05/07/2023 07:36

If the majority sign up and it goes ahead, what happens to the kids whose families cannot pay?

Thirty5 · 05/07/2023 07:37

No 8 year olds don’t need laptops, we aren’t in lockdown anymore (I would consider buying it in that situation) and ICT isn’t the be all and end all.
My daughters homework is all electronic and she struggles to complete her maths homework as she likes to write it down and work it out, so she has asked her teacher if she can have it printed out for her, lots of her peers asked the same when they realised it was an option. She is in Yr 3.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 05/07/2023 07:40

Absolutely absurd.

If they can't provide devices for those who can't afford it then they shouldn't be using that technology to deliver learning. Education has to be accessible to all, and this level of parental financial input is ludicrous. Are they going to replace it if it breaks down? Are they going to insure it?

Original poster
Ihearticecream · 05/07/2023 07:40

Saracen · 05/07/2023 07:36

If the majority sign up and it goes ahead, what happens to the kids whose families cannot pay?

@Saracen They have some laptops that children can share in class.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ihearticecream · 05/07/2023 07:43

Loverofoxbowlakes · 05/07/2023 07:40

Absolutely absurd.

If they can't provide devices for those who can't afford it then they shouldn't be using that technology to deliver learning. Education has to be accessible to all, and this level of parental financial input is ludicrous. Are they going to replace it if it breaks down? Are they going to insure it?

@Loverofoxbowlakes Apparently the reason it’s so expensive is because of the warranty which covers breakages and replacement.

But I do agree that it has to be for all not just those who sign up and pay.
I think the cheapest repayment is about £15 a month for three years.

OP posts:
Chocolateship · 05/07/2023 07:49

At least its laptops and not bloody tablets. I work in med tech now and lots of young colleagues cant easily operate a computer because a lot of their learning and playing is on tablets and mobiles; trouble is lots of work will never move over to these platforms fully so it's useful to know.

Anyway...its tricky as if schools don't have the budget then they don't have the budget, but it is a big expense for something the school is insisting on and that a lot of people wouldn't choose to buy otherwise. I honestly can't believe that the specs are going to be the best for the price through their supply chain. I also think it'd be far better for schools to try and fundraise or have donations of desktops from local businesses; we did this and DS' school now has a computer lab- a lot were happy to help. Children shouldn't be needing devices for homework at primary, its also a bit sad that paper and pen is no longer sufficient. Wouldn't be bad if schools taught scratch and stuff but it's used for stuff that could be written and that's a shame.

Anyway YANBU, I'm pretty sure they can't insist on parents paying for something that they're saying is mandatory.

itsgettingweird · 05/07/2023 07:53

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.

WeWereInParis · 05/07/2023 07:57

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.

Whowhatwherewhenwhy1 · 05/07/2023 08:26

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.

whataloadoftoshasusual · 05/07/2023 08:43

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.

YouveGotAFastCar · 05/07/2023 08:46

Ihearticecream · 05/07/2023 07:40

@Saracen They have some laptops that children can share in class.

Show quote history

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.

JunipeJuniper · 05/07/2023 08:47

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.

Conkersinautumn · 05/07/2023 08:47

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.

Conkersinautumn · 05/07/2023 08:48

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.

HollyBookBlue · 05/07/2023 08:54

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

C8H10N4O2 · 05/07/2023 08:55

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?

Crystals35 · 05/07/2023 08:58

whataloadoftoshasusual · 05/07/2023 08:43

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.

This.

Chocolateship · 05/07/2023 08:59

JunipeJuniper · 05/07/2023 08:47

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.

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.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 05/07/2023 09:01

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)