📱 Healthy Screen Time for Early Years
A friendly guide for parents, carers, and early years practitioners based on guidance from Best Start in Life and the Department for Education.
🕒 Recommended Daily Limits
Under 2 Years Old:
Avoid screen time altogether ...(other than shared family video calls with loved ones or interactive bonding activities).
Ages 2 to 5 Years:
Limit to up to 1 hour per day (less is even better!). Remember, quality matters more than quantity.
💡 Key Guidance & Best Practices
🤝 Co-View & Engage (Watch Together)
* Never leave young children to scroll or watch screens alone.
* Talk, ask questions, and describe what is happening on screen to help build their vocabulary and social-emotional development.
🐢 Choose Slow-Paced Content
* Opt for calm, slow-paced, repetitive, and story-led shows or interactive educational apps.
* Avoid fast-paced videos with frequent scene cuts, flashing lights, loud overlapping sounds, or auto-playing video streams.
🚫 Establish Screen-Free Routines & Zones
Mealtimes:
* Turn screens off to focus on social interaction and healthy eating habits.
* 1 Hour Before Bedtime: Keep screens out of the bedroom and avoid devices before sleep. Bright blue light and fast content disrupt melatonin and sleep quality.
* Background TV: Avoid having a TV or tablet playing in the background as it distracts from active play, conversation, and concentration.
🌳 Protect Active Real-World Play
* Ensure screen use never replaces essential activities like outdoor play, physical movement, storybook reading, face-to-face conversations, and hands-on creative play.
🔍 Quick Check Before Turning On a Screen:
1. Is screen use necessary, or can we do a real-world activity instead?
2. Is this content slow-paced and age-appropriate?
3. Am I sitting with my child to chat about what we are watching?
Merlin Top Primary Academy
23 hours ago
Our Northern Education Trust Safeguarding Hub provides a fantastic starting point for parents and carers to help safeguard and support students online including helpful app guides and support.
Bookmark this or scan the QR code for more advice and links 💜⤵️💜
...https://www.northerneducationtrust.org/2023/11/21/northern-education-trust-partners-with-smoothwall-to-create-an-online-safety-hub-for-parents-and-carers/
Merlin Top Primary Academy
2 days ago
📢 Important Announcement: Free School Meals & Pupil Premium Changes
Government eligibility for Free School Meals has expanded for September 2026! 🌟
If you receive Universal Credit (regardless of income), Income Support, or qualifying benefits, applying secures £1,550 in... Pupil Premium funding for Merlin Top Primary Academy to support your child directly!
💡 Why it matters:
📚 Funding provides: heavily subsidised residentials and trips, interventions, free after-school clubs, high quality resources.
👶 Reception, Y1 & Y2 parents MUST apply to secure the extra school funding (it isn’t automatic!).
🔁 All parents need to re-apply each school year.
Apply here: https://www.bradford.gov.uk/benefits/applying-for-benefits/free-school-meals/
Merlin Top Primary Academy
2 days ago
Merlin Top Primary Academy
4 days ago
Update on clubs!!
Please ensure you download the MCAS app and book the last remaining spaces for this terms clubs!! 
Merlin Top Primary Academy
1 weeks ago
📱 Healthy Screen Time for Early Years
A friendly guide for parents, carers, and early years practitioners based on guidance from Best Start in Life and the Department for Education.
🕒 Recommended Daily Limits
Under 2 Years Old:
Avoid screen time altogether ...(other than shared family video calls with loved ones or interactive bonding activities).
Ages 2 to 5 Years:
Limit to up to 1 hour per day (less is even better!). Remember, quality matters more than quantity.
💡 Key Guidance & Best Practices
🤝 Co-View & Engage (Watch Together)
* Never leave young children to scroll or watch screens alone.
* Talk, ask questions, and describe what is happening on screen to help build their vocabulary and social-emotional development.
🐢 Choose Slow-Paced Content
* Opt for calm, slow-paced, repetitive, and story-led shows or interactive educational apps.
* Avoid fast-paced videos with frequent scene cuts, flashing lights, loud overlapping sounds, or auto-playing video streams.
🚫 Establish Screen-Free Routines & Zones
Mealtimes:
* Turn screens off to focus on social interaction and healthy eating habits.
* 1 Hour Before Bedtime: Keep screens out of the bedroom and avoid devices before sleep. Bright blue light and fast content disrupt melatonin and sleep quality.
* Background TV: Avoid having a TV or tablet playing in the background as it distracts from active play, conversation, and concentration.
🌳 Protect Active Real-World Play
* Ensure screen use never replaces essential activities like outdoor play, physical movement, storybook reading, face-to-face conversations, and hands-on creative play.
🔍 Quick Check Before Turning On a Screen:
1. Is screen use necessary, or can we do a real-world activity instead?
2. Is this content slow-paced and age-appropriate?
3. Am I sitting with my child to chat about what we are watching?
Merlin Top Primary Academy
1 weeks ago
📚✨ Starbooks is back! ✨📚
We are delighted to invite families to join us for Starbooks
📅 Starting Wednesday 9th September
⏰ 8:30-9:00am
📍 School Hall (entrance via the breakfast club door)
⭐ Open to children from all year groups
⭐ A ...relaxed, welcoming start to the school day
⭐ Enjoy a range of exciting books
⭐️Enjoy breakfast together
We look forward to welcoming you to Starbooks and sharing the joy of reading together!