What do you know about coding? Tell The Sunday Times for a chance to win a £250 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

The Sunday Times have asked us to let Mumsnetters know that they’re running a Learn to Code series this weekend to coincide with the inclusion of coding in the national curriculum.

They told us: “With coding hitting the national curriculum this week, and our readers becoming more tech-savvy than ever, we will be demystifing computer programming in this weekend's edition of the paper. In partnership with Decoded, a company that specialises in digital training, the Learn to Code in a Day guide out this Sunday will take readers step-by-step through app-making.”.

“Editorial Director Eleanor Mills, who did Decoded's Code in a Day course herself, said: 'This is an exciting moment for us as we are the first British newspaper to offer a course like this. With five year-olds now learning computer programming in school, it is essential that adults keep up too.”

“If you’re nodding whilst reading the above then why not give it a go yourself? The easy guide will empower and equip you with the knowledge needed to tackle those potential conversations with your children over homework after school."

“Simply sign up to The Sunday Times for a £1 for 30-day trial and start learning now: thetim.es/1uD6qml”

So, what do you think about the addition of coding to the curriculum? Do you think it’s beneficial for children to learn this from a young age? Is this something you think you could get your head around when you were younger? Are there any other additions to the curriculum you feel are necessary for children to cope with today’s technologies?

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

It's a great idea, not just for the Kids but for the long term prospects of the country. In a world where so much of what we do is computer based these kind of skills are going to be increasingly valuable.

Of course it won't be for every child and I dread the homework my DS will bring back but we have to take the pain.

Coding is an essential skill now for children. It's a good basic skill to have and the earlier they learn the better. My family took part in the Shaun the Sheep create a code game over the summer and it was amazing the amount my son knew before hand from school and what he learnt whilst making the game, am quite techie but do find it challenging so am always interested in finding a guide that explains it simply and enable me to help my children. :o

Purpleflamingos - do you have an iPad at home? If so, there is a new app called ScratchJr which is a simplified version of Scratch, looks good for introducing little ones to the whole concept of coding.

For those wanting a go...

Scratch Jr : www.scratchjr.org/index.html
Scratch - scratch.mit.edu/
UK Hour of Code: uk.code.org/

I think it is a really good idea. Computers are a part of life these days & children need to learn all about them. I agree that it should only be for older children though.

Oh Gosh, ive read this thing 3 times i dont think i actually uderstand what coding means. is it teaching kids computers and android phone apps etc?

As an (old) Computer science graduate (1989), I think this is long overdue; Of course, children have to have a solid basic education, and THEN add coding onto that. It is good to do it say 10-12, before exam pressures start to build and the curriculum narrows to exams - or make it an option for those not suited to exams but 'clever'!

Coding can be really good fun for kids and depending on which code you use can be learned at a young age. Dd loved making her own games using simple code at school last year. They live in a technical age, I think it's good that they understand what's behind the things they are using!

Hula, that's what dd used. It's fab!

Coding, I'm not so sure, but if you think of the number of subjects that are taught that I don't really think are necessary, this is one of the better ones.

My husband threw that paper before I had a chance to have a look. What's more annoying, he NEVER throws newspapers away, and this particular subject, I bet he knows, would be interesting to me!!!

Anyway, for those who missed the paper. The article: www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/article1454905.ece

it has links to downlloadable *.pdf - guide to learn coding and "make your app" thing.

I think it's a brilliant idea. The curriculum needs to give children the best possible opportunity in the future job market. More and more jobs involve technology to this level, so it is preparing future graduates for the world they'll face

i think that its a good idea, our children will be using far more technology that what we had as children so they should know the basics of every aspect

I think its a great idea

Sensible to add it to curriculum, yes from a young age and yes I think u could have done it when younger. My brilliant Australian school taught me mathematical concepts at the age of six that the English system only addressed at 12. And if john Evelyn'.s son could learn Greek at 4 or 5 why not. You temper the language to the child, not the concept.

Is there anything else in the technology space? Well, I'd add stiff on the practical side eg how to retire a house without electrocuting yourself, or the principles thereof, stuff on sound, and on basic mechanics, not the mathematical element but eg principles of the combustion engine and how to spot a problem. You might call this practical or domestic physics! And we might end up with more engineers.

In the early 80s I went to a week long summer school to learn about BASIC programming which I loved. I was massively into writing my own Spectrum programmes and was disappointed we had no computers at junior school, so my hobby died off. I'm actually looking forward to getting my head round coding with my 4yo DS and feel it deserves a lot more attention on the curriculum. As others have mentioned, it's probably the teachers who will struggle!

I think it's a good idea to teach it in schools provided I don't have to help because I would not have a clue! I managed to get through school and uni without going anywhere near a computer.

I think its a great idea and coding can help you think in different ways, so would say there's a wider cognitive benefit.
Would love to brush up - taught myself HTML and javascript when I was younger - way back when you had to make websites in notepad. I need to brush up!

I think that there should be a focus on the basics in primary school. As a secondary teacher we are struggling to get pupils that cannot read or write properly to pass GCSEs and I think they should focus on this first.

I was taught coding when at school myself because computers then didn't do much unless you programmed them but I don't think my primary aged children should be forced to do this.

Honestly? I think it's a good idea but should be optional. It may seem impossible but technology has advanced so much to the extent that even little kids are getting involved. Little kids are able to handle it better because they're more open to learning and also more able to keep things in.

5 years seems a bit young, but I think the kids will be having fun.

Makes sense to me, it's the future, so good that our kids will learn a relevant skill.

I think teaching coding to children is a great idea. It's lots of fun, and trains you in useful ways to think.

Also, we all use information technology a huge amount these days, but most people have no idea how any of it works, it's just a black box. In the old days, I feel people understood better how the objects they used worked, and how to fix them if they went wrong. Hopefully teaching programming in schools will help to demystify electronics for the next generation.

Great idea so UK will not lag further behind in hi-tech jobs market.

I think it's an essential skill for life so it's a good thing.

it just confuses me