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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Lap top/chrome book for secondary

19 replies

christinarossetti19 · 23/10/2020 20:08

My Y7 has a visual processing disorder and really needs to start using a laptop at school. He's now a pretty fluent touch typer after learning with me at home.

He is on the SEN register, but the school doesn't have any laptops to lend Sad. We've spoken to the SENCo about us buying him a cheap laptop that he keeps at school in her office, as I really don't want him walking to and from school with a laptop in his bag.

Can anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful one please? Needs to be able to use MSTeams, word, powerpoint etc.

Light but sturdy would be ideal.

TIA

OP posts:
MintyIguana · 23/10/2020 20:14

Maybe check with school if a Chromebook is sufficient

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 23/10/2020 20:56

Thanks, I was wondering whether a Chromebook would be sufficient, but haven't got lots of spare cash at the moment and I really don't want him carrying a more valuable item than necessary around.

I've got a higher spec IdeaPad and really like it though.

OP posts:
Savoury · 24/10/2020 08:41

Have you considered a tablet with a bolt on keyboard?
Presuming your son doesn't need specialised software for maths and science, it might be a good idea.

Here's a similar one.

www.johnlewis.com/logitech-slim-folio-bluetooth-keyboard-for-ipad-7th-gen-graphite/p4927374?s_share=w_dro

Savoury · 24/10/2020 08:43

Actually ignore the above.
It would work for Google classrooms but not the full Microsoft suite of Office.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 24/10/2020 10:34

Thanks. Yes, it's a minefield isn't it?

No he doesn't need specialist software fortunately but will need a 14" screen as he'll be using it without a monitor.

His school are all set up with Teams, so compatible with Microsoft is the main requirement.

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OhCrumbsWhereNow · 24/10/2020 21:08

We looked for this earlier this year so I did a lot of research and unfortunately none of the cheap options had what was needed to use MS Teams, run office and all the SMHM and so on that school use, and I was advised to go with at least 8GB. Given that DD has already had two sets of 14 days isolation for Covid this term, having something that could handle Teams was a must as they ran a full set of lessons on that.

We went with this from Curry's in the end: www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-pavilion-14-ce3600sa-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-256-gb-ssd-silver-10203567-pdt.html

DD has pretty severe dyslexia so uses a laptop for everything bar maths/PE etc and she seems pretty happy with it.

It's also lightweight but tough enough to survive journey to school and being lugged about.

Worth checking some of the sites where you can buy reserviced (which often means just not in original box).

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 24/10/2020 21:29

Thanks OhCrumbsWhereNow.

What's SMHM? Ds is only in Y7, so not all that familiar with the lingo.

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OhCrumbsWhereNow · 24/10/2020 22:27

Show My Home Work - an app that DD's school use for setting Homework and all the Teams stuff.

DD also in Y7 - your DS's school must not use it, as the wretched thing has a parent bit and it endlessly emails you to tell you that your child hasn't submitted their maths homework yet! Can't decide if it's actually great or just another source of stress!

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 25/10/2020 11:20

Oops! My Y9 dd's school uses SMHW so I should know that!

She can access it on her Chromebook though.

Ds's school seem to be setting homework etc via Teams, so it'll be worth me finding out if they're going to stick with that.

Thanks!

OP posts:
Popfan · 25/10/2020 19:35

My DS has a Microsoft surface go. It's a tablet with a keyboard attached. His school use Microsoft office and teams and it works really well and is also light to carry around. I'd really recommend it.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 27/10/2020 15:54

Thanks Popfan. It looks great but I think it's more money that I want to spend at the moment.

I'm a bit worried about ds carrying it to and from school, even hidden in a rucksack. He's a tiny Y7. One possibility might be him keeping it at school in the Senco's office as he he can access Teams at home, but I can't ask the school to 'take responsibility' for it.

Is your ds's laptop insured?

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 27/10/2020 16:50

DD is teeny and has a long commute - I spent ages trying to find a rucksack that didn't make her look like a tortoise! Hence the 14" for the laptop so it would fit - and I made sure the rucksack had a protective compartment for the laptop. Plus numerous lectures about not sitting on it, not chucking it about too much etc.

I took out an insurance policy with Protect My Bubble which costs about £4 a month and covers for every possible accident/theft etc.

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 27/10/2020 20:10

Thanks, that's very useful to know about the insurance.

What rucksack does your dd have? Ds needs a new one and I think I'm going to actually have to go into a shop to see them as I can't get much of a sense of their actual size online.

He wants an Adidas one, as the colourful Hype one that he had in Y6 doesn't cut the mustard now.

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 28/10/2020 12:00

DD's school have a ban on logos and branding and rucksacks have to be plain in colour, so I ended up getting one in TK Maxx as I couldn't find one that wasn't huge online and it's hard to visualise from measurements.

Had a look on line and it's this one: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373145453533 (was a lot cheaper in TK Maxx). It's waterproof, loads of pockets for umbrella/waterbottle etc, comfortable to wear and doesn't make her look like a tortoise.

One thing I did buy that has been really useful was a load of these plastic zip folders with different coloured zips. She has a different one for each subject and it makes it easy to grab the right ones each day for school and keeps handouts from turning into a sea of scrumpled up paper at the bottom of the rucksack: www.amazon.co.uk/Plastic-Wallets-Ziplock-Document-Folders/dp/B07WPBPZTZ/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 28/10/2020 13:11

Thanks OhCrumbsWhereNow. Ds's school is big on those plastic wallets. He's got them for a couple of subjects and it's a good idea to get more.

Ds's school doesn't mind about logos on bags and he wants an Adidas one, so I've just ordered this www.johnlewis.com/adidas-power-5-backpack/p4839860.

OP posts:
Thisismylife1 · 29/10/2020 12:53

Don’t get a chromebook if it’s not a google school. If they use teams you are much better off with a regular laptop. Much more choice too so hopefully less £.

Having a chrome book is compulsory at most schools round here the kids all just carry them around - just part of the deal.

peoniesarejustperfect · 29/10/2020 13:53

My DS is also dyslexic and we are now on our second laptop as he moved schools in Y7 and now has Lenovo Chromebook, which the school lend him. I was a bit cheesed off about the old one, but I can't believe how wonderful it is. It is very powerful, great for all his needs and has touch screen etc. and not too heavy.

I love the folders idea - in fact, the whole family could benefit from that!

Original poster
christinarossetti19 · 29/10/2020 14:06

Thisismylife1 thanks, yes you're right. Dd's school uses Google classrooms and a Chromebook works fine for this, but I assume not Teams.

I've got a Lenovo ThinkPad which I love, but was quite £££ and too heavy for ds (I don't have to do much lugging of it around).

More googling to do - thanks all!

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