app / website information for eyfs parents...app / website information for eyfs parents the...
TRANSCRIPT
App / Website information for EYFS Parents The following pages give you an overview of some apps that may be useful for learning at home.
Unless otherwise stated the apps are for an iPad.
Almost all of the apps can be downloaded for free. Although many apps only provide a simplified
version with the full version available to purchase. In addition, some apps offer in-app purchases.
For early learners, adult support will almost certainly be needed to access the resources initially.
As always, it is at parental discretion that the apps are used. Please supervise your children when using
a digital device, especially if they can make in app-purchases without a password or are browsing the
internet. E-safety link: http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
‘Key Stage’ refers to the level at which your child is studying and gives a guide to the
ageappropriateness of apps:
EYFS: Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception)
1: Key Stage One – Year One and Two – these apps can challenge your child if they are ready
2: Key Stage Two – Years Three to Six – some apps are appropriate across a wide age range
Maths A variety of apps are available for the early development of both Maths and English. A tip is ‘less is more’ –
download one app at a time and trial them until you find just a few you like.
App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Jungle Puzzle
(Marshmallow)
Free EYFS Very simple shape awareness (jigsaw &
matching objects to their ‘shadows’)
The Farm
(Marshmallow)
Free EYFS More simple shape awareness &
introduction to word problems (shape
matching, visual ‘bigger and smaller’, basic
number) *Adult help to read
Writing Magic
Numbers
£1.49 EYFS Practice number formation
Super 7 – No
Monkeys
£0.79
(Free
version
available)
1 Use your knowledge of addition and
subtractions to make the number 7 (more
interesting than it sounds)!
Geraldine’s
Number Land
£2.29 1 + 2
Practise using the four operators with
Geraldine – a favourite character of EYFS
children
AB Maths -
Nicolas
Lehovetzki
£1.49 1 + 2 Mental maths practise – four operators
(Free version available)
AB Maths II -
Nicolas
Lehovetzki
£0.99 1 + 2
Mental maths practise – four operators
(Free version available)
Maths Websites Top Marks is a great website for games, the other three websites offer more ‘in-depth’ information.
App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Top Marks Free EYFS, 1 + 2
A favourite in EYFS:
Underwater Counting – counting objects to 10 Ladybird Spots – simple number awareness (counting & ordering) to 10 Gingerbread Man game - simple number awareness (counting & ordering)
to 10 Teddy Numbers – word problems / counting in ones to 15 Hit the Button – a variety of challenges right to Y6 (choose ‘Number
Bonds’ then ‘Up to 10)
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
Mixed Maths Games Free EYFS, 1 + 2 http://www.ictgames.com/resources.html
Problem Solving Activities &
Early Maths Pedagogy Info Free EYFS, 1 + 2 http://nrich.maths.org/early-years
Times Education Supplement
(TES) Mixed Resources Free EYFS https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/hub/early-years
A TES simple adition game: http://www.iboard.co.uk/activity/Beam-Me-Up-
Addition-to-10-2363 Oxford Owl website Free EYFS, 1 + 2 A variery of resources and E-books are available to support learning at home.
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
Doorway Online Free EYFS, 1 + 2 These resources provide visual help for young children to aquire maths
concepts. They should be used with discussion points from an adult.
http://www.doorwayonline.org.uk/number/
Coding / Programming There are a variety of very good apps to support early logical reasoning, divergent thinking and resilience. These apps
will require adult input in order for your child(ren) to initially navigate the apps and acquire the skills needed to
continue challenging themselves individually.
App Name Cost Key
Stage
Description
Kodable Free EYFS + 1 Simple Up, Down, Left, Right
Bee-Bot Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Navigate a robot around a map
Blue-Bot Free
EYFS, 1 + 2 Randomly generate challenges – can connect
to Blue-bot robots
Bee-Bot Pyramid £0.69 EYFS, 1 + 2 Bee-bot – set in an Egyptian pyramid
Lightbot Hour Free 1 + 2 Arrow coding navigation game
Tynker App Free 1 + 2 Block coding object avoidance games
Daisy the Dino Free L2 Drag and drop commands (free play) -
early examples of ‘block coding’
Box Island Free EYFS + 1
Simple arrow coding application with ‘no’
reading ability needed (introduces loops)
The Foos
(codeShark
Academy)
Free EYFS + 1
Simple arrow coding application with ‘no’ reading ability needed (introduces loops)
Coding / Programming Websites There are a variety of very good apps to support early logical reasoning, divergent thinking and resilience. These apps
will require adult input in order for your child(ren) to initially navigate the apps and acquire the skills needed to
continue challenging themselves individually.
App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Kodable Free EYFS + 1 Simple Up, Down, Left, Right
https://game.kodable.com/play?hc=1&user=9u8imlu
codeSpark Academy (The
Foos)
Free
EYFS + 1
Simple Arrow Coding game with no language skills needed
http://thefoos.com/webgl/
Bee-Bot Pyramid £0.69 EYFS, 1 + 2 Bee-bot – set in an Egyptian pyramid
Lightbot Hour Free 1 + 2 Arrow coding navigation game http://lightbot.com/flash.html
Tynker.com Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Select ‘Hour of Code’ to play free games – Hour of Code is
an initiative to provide children with free opportunities to
code for one hour. Search this term in Google for many
free resources. www.tynker.com/hourofcode
Code.org Free EYFS, 1 + 2 A fantastic website both with full courses to learn code and a number of shorter Hour of Code activities.
www.code.org
Phonics ‘Phonics’ is the term given to the early acquisition of letter names and sounds and how this knowledge can be used
to break-down sound groups and construct groups of sounds, to read and write respectively.
Ask your child’s teacher what ‘phonics phase’ (level) your child is working at to access the resources effectively – Bug
Club books are also set by phase.
App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Twinkle Phonics Suite
app
Free EYFS + 1 A group of phonics apps for all levels.
Little Writer app Free EYFS Apps to practise letter formation.
Letter Quiz app Free EYFS
Pocket Phonics Lite
app
Free EYFS Practice writing both letters and simple
words.
Geraldine’s Phonics
Land
£1.49 EYFS, 1 Practise your phonics with Geraldine
Phonics Starter
Pack for ages 4-7
(Mr Thorne)
£4.99 EYFS, 1 A variety of apps to support phonics
development
Phonics Website Links App Name Cost Key Stage Description
The Alphablocks
Guide to Phonics
A guide to supporting your child’s phonic development
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
grownups/the-alphablocks-guide-tophonics
Phonics Play Website Free EYFS, 1 A variety of resources are available.
http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
Dragon’s Den Game Free EYFS, 1 http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
DragonsDen.html
BBC Word Blender
Game
Free EYFS, 1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
wordsandpictures/clusters/blender/
game.shtml
English - Reading App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Mibblio app
(some free audio
books, some cost)
Free EYFS + 1 Mibblio is an app company which lets
children to play music along to their
visual / audio books. More ‘Mibblets’ are
available to purchase.
FarFaria Stories
apps
Free EYFS + 1 FarFaria are a company producing
interactive books – especially traditional
tales.
Storybird.com
Website
Free EYFS, 1 + 2
This website allows learners to read and
write books. For EYFS, the main purpose
will be early reading.
Teach Your
Monster to Read -
Website
Free
(log-in
needed)
EYFS, 1 A website used by Year 1 teachers to support reading development.
www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Oxford Owl website Free EYFS, 1 + 2 A variery of resources and E-books are available to support learning at home.
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
English - Writing App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Little Writer Free EYFS Apps to practise letter formation.
Letter Quiz Free EYFS
Magic Letters £1.49 EYFS Practise letter formation including the
ability to select individual letters to focus
upon.
Comic Life
Free EYFS, 1 Create your own comic-books. Especially
useful for reluctant writers.
Research, Note Taking and Presentation These apps are used regularly in school for older pupils to present their learning. With your support, even younger
children can access these apps. It may be nice to create a digital-dairy of your learning at home.
App Name Cost Key
Stage
Description
Explain Everything £2.99 2
‘Interactive Whiteboard’ – record
presentations and annotate pictures & text in
real time.
Book Creator Free /
£3.99 1 + 2
Create your own e-books. You can import
picture and videos you have made previously.
Video Production Adult help will be needed for young children to access these apps. However, together, you can create some
fantasic videos. Puppet Pals is part of the Digital Literacy curriculum in EYFS.
App Name Cost Key
Stage
Description
LEGO Movie Maker Free 1 + 2 Create stop-motion animations using your
LEGO characters, drawings, or any other
object. Add stickers and LEGO designed
frames.
Tellagami Free 1 + 2 Record comments for animated figures to
speak. Use to explain pictures placed in the
background.
Animoto Free 1 + 2 Create an easy and great-looking picture slide
show in a few easy steps.
PuppetPals HD Free 1 + 2 Animate cartoon characters – good to
encourage early oral storytelling.
PuppetPals2 Free 1 + 2
Green Screen by Do
Ink
£2.29 2 Do you have a wall in your house that is
painted blue, green or red? If so, you have
yourself a film studio. *Young children will
need to be guided through this but you can
make fantastic videos together.
Music App Name Cost Key
Stage
Description
Jenny Balloons (Mibblet) Free EYFS + 1 Mibblio is an app company which lets children to
play music along to their visual / audio books.
More ‘Mibblets’ are available to purchase.
Spaghetti (Mibblet) Free EYFS + 1
Novation Launchpad
Free
EYFS, 1 + 2 This software gives you the chance to be a DJ for
the day. It is a useful platform to teach some of the
basic skills of iPad use.
Drum Pads 24
Free
EYFS + 1 This simple app allows learners to experiment with
sound buttons – they can play free style or try to
program ‘loops’.
Magic Piano
Free
EYFS + 1 This simple game helps learners with the
coordination, fine motor skills and ability to listen
for a song’s ‘pulse’.
Beatwave Free
EYFS, 1 Use this app to create simple sound scopes with
repeating loops.
Incredibox App
Incredibox.com
Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Enjoy this simple and Flash-based game on a
desktop computer or laptop. With catch ‘beatbox’
style rhythms, young children can learn skills such
as ‘dragging and dropping’ as well as minimising
and maximising windows.
tony-b.org Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Learn to use a simple drum machine to create
dance music loops – can be surprisingly effective if
used correctly!
Drawing App Name Cost Key Stage Description
Sketches - Tayasui Free EYFS, 1 + 2 This great app uses stylised paintbrush,
sketching pencils and pen effects making it
easy to draw a masterpiece on your iPad.
It is particularly nice to paint landscapes.
Drawing Desk –
4 Axis Solutions
Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Annotate and edit photos; create doodles
with fun stickers and 3D brushes; draw
sketches with a range of different pen
styles and enjoy the kids drawing functions
using this great free app. (Four Functions)
Drawing – Thumbsoft
Free EYFS, 1 + 2 This is a basic drawing app that allows the
user to draw using a variety of coloured
pencils.
PicCollage Free EYFS, 1 + 2 Not so much a drawing app as a photo
collage maker – EYFS children use this app
to produce a poster about what they like
around school.