Busy Things - Supporting EYFS And The Transition To KS1

For Early Years practitioners and Computing Leads in LGfL schools*, finding digital resources that align with the EYFS Statutory Framework can be a challenge. Many platforms are too rigid or text-heavy for our youngest learners.

Busy Things is highly regarded for its flexibility across different ability levels. Teachers can customise the difficulty settings of individual games, which is essential for SEND support. The intuitive interface, high-contrast visuals, and humorous audio feedback allow children to move from "open-ended" confidence-building to "structured" progression at their own pace.

Here is how Busy Things acts as a digital "enabling environment" in a busy EYFS setting and supports the transition to KS1.

 Watch to find out how to give your youngest learners the perfect first taste of technology.

✔️ Independent Exploration

In the Early Years, we know the value of resources that allow for independent exploration.

Busy Things mirrors this approach by:

• Process Over Product: Many activities have no fixed endpoint or score. Much like a sandpit or water table, the value lies in the experimentation,  allowing children to explore colours in Busy Paint or sounds in the Music Colour Choir without the pressure of being right.

• Icon-Driven Autonomy: The text-free, intuitive interface allows even a three-year-old to exercise agency. They don’t need to wait for an adult to read instructions; visual cues and spoken prompts empower them to lead their own learning journey. 

• Visual Navigation: Subject areas are identified by clear symbols (like a paintbrush for Art or a number for Numeracy). This builds digital confidence and allows children to follow their own interests across the curriculum independently.

• Scaffolded Audio Guidance:  Almost every activity is accompanied by clear, friendly audio guidance. This builds listening and attention skills while fostering a sense of independence.  

Watch an example of exploring music and colour using 'Music Colour Choir'

 ✔️  Supporting the Characteristics of Effective Learning

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework identifies core behaviours through the characteristics of effective teaching and learning, 

The framework outlines three key characteristics that describe the "how" of children's learning and behaviour.

 Busy Things is engineered to trigger these three core behaviours - 

• Playing and Exploring: Children investigate and experience things, showing a willingness to have a go. The trial-and-error nature of the games encourages this.

• Active Learning:  High-quality animations and funny sound effects in Busy Things provide immediate feedback that sustains attention. Because "mistakes" often result in a humorous animation, like a pie in the face, the fear of failure is replaced by the desire to iterate and try again.

• Creating and Thinking Critically: Children develop their own ideas, make links between different ideas, and create strategies for accomplishing tasks. Many Busy Things activities serve as talk prompts, using the silly scenarios on screen to encourage oracy and vocabulary development (e.g., "Why do you think the monster has three legs?"). 

Find out here how Busy Things embraces the characteristics of effective teaching and learning, 

 ✔️ Preparing for the Structure of KS1

As children move into their reception year, increased focus on teaching essential skills and knowledge in specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design) help them prepare for KS1. BusyThings can help with this as well.

For example:

• Physical Development: The Busy Things platform supports hand-eye coordination and midline-crossing movements through mouse control, which are required for early mark-making and letter formation.

   

• PSED & Oracy: Games focused on expressions and feelings help children decode social cues. The individual "My Files" area builds a sense of ownership and self-confidence.

•  The "Busy Box": provides quick-fire games that are perfect for transition times or morning starters, helping to establish classroom routines through positive reinforcement.  

 Learn how Busy Things transitions from teacher-led play to independent

learning as children move into Key Stage 1 and beyond 

By integrating Busy Things into your daily provision, you are providing a platform that respects how young children learn. It reduces teacher workload by providing curriculum-mapped activities that children can navigate independently, freeing up staff for high-quality interactions. Most importantly, it ensures that when children move into KS1, they do so with the digital confidence and logical thinking skills required for the National Curriculum.

But is Busy Things JUST for the Early Years? What about KS2?

 Busy Things has grown beyond its original focus on early years education.

The platform offers a vast range of curriculum-aligned resources specifically designed for Key Stages 1 and 2. This expansion is supported by the increased availability of mobile technology in classrooms, which allows older pupils to access educational games on their own devices.

The platform is now a comprehensive tool for the entire primary school journey. Continuous updates ensure that teachers have access to fresh materials across all subject areas to support teaching and learning opportunities.

                      Find out about KS2 content designed specifically for 1:1 iPad programs and older primary students. 

• Recent developments have prioritised Key Stage 2 topic areas and parts of the curriculum that were not previously covered, ensuring the content is relevant for older children.

• The platform has introduced new games specifically for these higher year groups, 

• Older pupils, particularly those in Year 5 and Year 6, often have better access to individual technology.  This creates more learning opportunities for them to use Busy Things as a personal resource.

• The resource is no longer limited in scope; new activities and resources are being added all the time across the whole curriculum to support learning higher up in the school

Want to find out more?