Early Years

At St Helen's we understand that Technology can support early years development when used thoughtfully, enhancing learning, engagement, and foundational skills without replacing traditional play and adult interaction. While technology offers benefits, it should enhance rather than replace traditional play and adult interaction. 

Technology matters in early years development when used intentionally and in balance with traditional learning. There is no sedentary screen time at St Helen's.

Understanding the World

"Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension".

(Development Matters) 

Online Safety in EYFS

We recognise that whilst technology and Computing as a subject doesn't feature heavily in our Early Years Curriculum Maps. What does feature in our curriculum is Online Safety as children are using devices and the internet at home as part of their everyday lives far more than they are in school. 

We know children often have access to tablets and parent's phones. This is a feature of our Home Visit discussions before children join us.

Our children often come into St Helen's with skills in scrolling, zooming and navigating apps; we therefore respond by ensuring that our curriculum covers Online Safety in Early Years through a character called DigiDuck. The progression of DigiDuck's adventures and learning is fully sequenced using our iCompute Computing scheme of work. 

Alongside this we share resources with parents for tips on using devices safely, our technicians support with setting up parental controls our DSL runs an Online Safety workshop. We support our parents with ensuring their child's safety whilst also working together to understand the impact of screen use in under 5's on delayed speech and language use, limited play skills, rewiring of children's brain synapses and attention difficulties. We try to get a balance of educating all and ensuring safety whilst also providing alternatives for children in the Early Years e.g. our parent workshop on 'Learning through Play'.