Early Years Computing
The computing curriculum and our scheme of work do not officially cover Early Years, however, technology, and young children's understanding of technology will play a vital role in their early development and their success with computing in the future. The following articles and resources offer really useful guidance on what computing should look like in Early Years, in order to provide a strong foundation for those children when they begin Key Stage one.
Resources
Computational Thinking in Early Years, an overview
An excellent guide to accompany 'The Computational Thinkers' poster from CAS Barefoot. The document explains what computational thinking is, how it fits into early years, suggests example activities and maps everything to existing Early Years areas of learning.
The Computational Thinkers - Early years
An adapted version of the CAS Barefoot 'The Computational Thinkers' poster, for EarlyYears. So much of computational thinking is right at home in Early Years! Produced by The CAS Barefoot Computing project. You can find all their fantastic resources here: www.barefootcomputing.org
CAS Barefoot Early Years resources
Computing at School (CAS) have now extended their excellent Barefoot 'unplugged' computing resources to cover two sessions for Early Years classrooms.
CAS resource: Early Years computing outcomes
A very useful resource from Rachael Coultart, Computing Subject Lead at St Nicholas Primary School. She has put this together to support her Early Year team at to ensure that they have a sound understanding of they we are aiming to achieve with their pupils by the end of Foundation Stage.
Please note, you will need to create a free Computing at School (CAS) account to be able to download the resource and other resources from CAS.
FIRST LEGO League Discover
FIRST LEGO League discover is a fantastic STEM program for 4-6 year olds which develops key habits of learning through play. Children investigate a real-world theme and work as a team to design a solution. It is delivered with LEGO Duplo Education kits and is fully resourced with lesson plans and lots of resources to support you. It is delivered by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and you can register to take part and find our more information on their website. Our team can also support you in running the programme in your school.
FIRST LEGO League Discover training slides
Take a look at our training slides for FIRST LEGO League Discover. They are full of lots of useful information and links, to help your Early Year or Key Stage 1 staff get familiar and confident with delivering the programme. Get in touch if you would like us to come into your school to deliver this training to staff. You can reach us at teachictnt@ntlp.org.uk.
Mini Mash - from Purple Mash
The home page for Mini Mash, which is the area of Purple Mash, from 2Simple, which is a safe online space for children in the Early Years to learn, create and explore.
TTS - Early Years technology equipment
Many of our schools have been using TTS for years. They supply a great range of equipment appropriate for Early Years learners, such as light boxes, visualisers, cameras, remote control devices, metal detectors, walkie-talkies and more.
Exploring machines we control
Take a look at the final lessons of our Year 1 unit - Keeping Safe and Exploring Technology. Many of the devices listed in lessons 5 and 6 are perfectly suitable for Early Years as well where children can begin to explore how they work.
Useful articles
Laying the foundations for computing in the early years
A super article from Miles Berry discussing why we perhaps should not rush to try and teach computing as a subject in Early Years, but instead embrace the learning that provides a foundation for computational thinking.
Computing at School (CAS) Early Years area
The homepage for Early Years ideas and resources from Computing at School (CAS). There are links to ideas and resources linked to all areas of the Early Years framework.
Please note, you will need to create a free Computing at School (CAS) account to be able to download most resources from this site.
Introducing ICT
An article from teachearlyyears.com where Rachel Ager explains how technology can best be introduced to the children in your setting.
Videos
Purple Mash Webinar: Mashing in the Early Years
This webinar looks at Mashing in the Early years in particular exploring Mini Mash which is an interactive virtual classroom that allows children in Nursery and Reception to explore, learn and create in a safe online space. In each of the seven learning areas you’ll find a wide range of tools and content mapped around the EYFS framework. It also comes complete with 30+ themed topic packs covering all of the Early Years favourites.
Purple Mash Webinar: Creating bespoke EYFS resources
In this webinar we provide guidance on how to create your own resources suitable for the children in your EYFS setting, including:
- How to upload/import your own resources and use within Mini Mash.
- How to adapt the pre-made resources to meet the needs of your learners.
- Demonstrate the different ways to allow children to access these resources easily
CAS Early years computing video playlist
A Youtube playlist of really useful training videos around the theory and background of how and why computing can have such an important impact in Early Years, with lots of useful suggestions for activities and resources too.