Indeed, educational philosophies including Steiner do not use ICT such as computers with young children. However, the potential and possibilities of ICT in the Early Years Foundation Stage are hugely exciting when used in appropriate ways. Just look at our feature on blogging ('21st century literacy', pages 14-15). The nursery children at Sharrow Primary School in Sheffield blogged about the adventures of two teddy bears that they took home in turns.
The project was brilliant at fostering oral skills as the children related their stories to be scribed to the blog, and it developed their use of digital cameras. These aspects of learning could, of course, be nurtured without any high-tech tools. Where the blog really enhanced their experiences was in sharing their project with the wider community and making it accessible to them in a way that could not be replicated by handing out newsletters at the nursery door.
So Zakaria's uncle in Bangladesh read his blog and commented on it - a real benefit of the digital age.
Nursery World may have launched well before the internet began - in 1925 - but we are increasingly using new digital platforms for news, practice and community. Many of you visit www.nurseryworld.co.uk, especially for the discussion forums; we have just joined Twitter (go to www.twitter.com/nurseryworld); and we will be starting a blog soon.
