Device in Primary Schools

[Ihearticecream]

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?

Yes how on earth did anyone learn them beforehand. As I've said before I'm not anti tech, but claiming they're essential when it's nothing that couldn't be done without tech is sad. If only schools utilised them properly we might be able to compete with the cyber capabilities of other countries.

Please do tell me though, apart from a worksheet how else can I get kids to practise times tables off the cuff with no faff sorting out resources, for 5 minutes here and there while other children are quietly working

Why do you say, "apart from a worksheet"? Why is a worksheet not a reasonable answer?

Children didn't need to take a multiplication test, on a laptop, answering questions in under 6 seconds at 8 years old before. I've got A level maths and a first class degree and know I wasn't doing anything like that at age 8.

Just because they already do lots of worksheet practice. It's just variety. The laptop is definitely more effective though - on TTRS for example, it constantly assesses them so sets them the questions they need to learn. They are also much more motivated by it. Most children in my class probably spend 20 minutes on it in an entire week. The children on it most spend perhaps an hour total. They do willingly practise it at home though; children very rarely practised on a worksheet at home a few years ago.

Ridiculous and totally unneccessary in primary school.

When my eldest went to secondary we bought a second hand chrome book for under £100. I definitely wouldn't be spending £500 on a laptop for an 8 year old.

I also think by schools asking parents to fund what they consider vital equipment for their learning it's slippery slope into allowing the government to underfund education further.

If your son has diagnosed ADHD and dyslexia, can you ask the SENCO for use of a laptop as a reasonable adjustment? Can you get any professionals to state that he needs one to fairly access his work?

Thanks @whatsagoodusername it was the Senco I asked, was so disappointed in their open and shut response. She said there’s 8 for the school and its first coke first served! In a school of 1500 the odds aren’t great!

I will keep the fight going though.

£500? You are being swindled by the school. You can get a reasonable laptop in Argos for under £300 and a second hand one from a reseller for under £100.

Myself and another parent asked for our kids to have homework books at the start of Y4, myself because after doing it online in Y3 we found the site very laggy (possibly because my laptop is old), and the other parent because she didn't like how much electric her laptop used to charge.

I now notice lots of homework books coming out each week, and think she may have just given them all books instead!

If the school is trying to lock parents into buying from a specific supplier, then I suspect the school is getting a cut.

@BringOnSummerHolidays It’s a state school. We would no way be able to afford a private school. This £500 is a lot for us.