digital pedagogy

At Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest, we use digital technology thoughtfully to support children’s play, curiosity and communication. Digital pedagogy means choosing when and how to use technology based on what it helps a child do, notice or discover. We start with a simple question: What will this add to the child’s experience?

Birth to 5 Matters, second edition, encourages practitioners to start with children’s interests and choose tools that extend their learning. After collecting leaves outdoors, for example, children might use a digital microscope with an adult to look closely at the veins and compare what they notice. A small group might use a programmable toy to plan a route, predict where it will go and try a different idea if it takes a wrong turn. Digital experiences can also involve movement, such as using a speaker to play music while children invent their own dance moves.

Adults have an important role in these experiences. They follow children’s ideas, give them time to explore and invite them to show or explain what they’ve noticed. A question such as “Where do you think it will go next?” can turn a shared activity into a chance to talk, take turns and solve a problem together.

Digital tools can help children express themselves and feel that their experiences are valued. A child might use a communication aid to share a choice, or listen to a greeting recorded in their home language. We consider each child’s age, interests, communication and individual needs when choosing resources. For babies and younger toddlers at the Nest, responsive interactions, songs, movement and hands-on sensory exploration are at the heart of the day.

We think carefully about when a digital tool will enrich play and when to give children time to stay absorbed in what they are already doing. Hands-on play, outdoor exploration, conversation and warm relationships remain central to nursery life. Families can build on this approach at home by sharing a photo of something their child found on a walk, listening to a favourite song together or talking about a picture their child chose to take.

If you’d like to know more about how we use digital tools to support your child’s learning and participation, please speak to their key person.