Laptops

[starryeyed19]

My DD is about to start Year 7. Does she need to have a laptop for homework? We currently have an iPad and she has her own smartphone but will she need to be typing lots of things up? Or is it still mostly handwriting in exercise books (I feel so old)

IME, they write up mostly in exercise books, but what all of my dc have had to do is access the school's intranet to access the homework.

So in subjects whee the homework is handwritten, they will need to get on line to find out information. Other things are produced on computers - powerpoints, posters, etc.

I guess it depends on the individual school. My DD did needn’t need a laptop in y 7 but it certainly helps for homework etc as they have to do a fair bit on PowerPoint etc. Her school is now stating laptops from yr 9 but I do know some schools where iPads are required

DS didn't have one in year 7 and that was fine, but we have just got him one for year 8.

Thank you all! That's really helpful

If the school didn't mention it at open evenings or transition events I would wait and see but be prepared to get something.

Dd types up a fair amount of things (going into yr 8) but I think sometimes she has the option to rather than it has to be typed. She definitely needs access to 'show my homework' the schools portal though as the homework questions are set on there.

A point to consider is whether the school's VLE (for online homework) is compatible with an iPad.

It's Show My Homework, so I think so

Mine used a family laptop. She also had a stick thing that she could take to school to print stuff out because our printer was temperamental. They do need access to show my ho work though, both pupil and parent. It wasn't until she was in 6th form that she really needed her own laptop.

Homework, ho work sounds so wrong

I'd go for one but not hugely expensive. It just needs to have office on it and access to the schools website.

If you're unsure, then say it has to be used in a communal area of the house so you can monitor internet access.

DD did quite a few Powerpoint presentations for homework in the lower school. I agree that getting a laptop that is compatible with Microsoft Office is a good idea.

If you and/or other family/household members regularly use MS Office as well or might do, you can take out a subscription and download the software to a range of devices

all dc needed to do a few powerpoint presentaions and also used word for a few projects. In year 7 they still used the "family" computer