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National has dished up another policy this week that proposes to end screen use in early childhood education (ECE) centres and limit it in primary schools, with a new School Start Check programme.
Much like the recent social media ban for under-16s, National’s Education spokesperson Erica Stanford says these changes will help protect young children from excessive use.
“For younger children, we want to place greater emphasis on books, handwriting, conversation, hands-on activities and direct interaction with teachers and other children,” Stanford says.
If re-elected, Stanford says the School Start Check will better prepare children for school and will form part of National’s Set up for Success policy.
“In ECE, that means ending screen and individual-device use. In Years 1 to 3, screen use will be tightly limited, with age-appropriate limits also introduced for older primary students.
“That is why we are introducing Set up for Success, a series of steps that will ensure your child is school ready.”
National says the policy will introduce clearer developmental milestones throughout ECE, identify areas where added support is needed and address that through the Early Intervention Service.
It will also require the writing component of twice-yearly primary school assessments to be completed on paper.
“There is also growing evidence about the importance of handwriting and learning by hand,” Stanford says. “Forming letters helps children learn and retain information. When children are first learning to read and write, that matters.”
Stanford says reconsidering how much time young children spend learning through screen is being discussed overseas as well.
“Teachers are reporting an increasing number of new entrants are starting school lacking basic skills such as toilet training and eating and dressing independently.
“Children are arriving at school having never held a pencil or scissors, without the oral skills they need, and many cannot identify letters in their own name.
“The School Start Check will make those expectations clear, and ECE centres will work with parents to assess how ready a child is to start school and where they may need extra support,” she says.
Stanford says the policy’s focus is to set expectations but will not stop children from starting school.
