AI isn’t about to start changing nappies, but does it have a place in early years settings?
With artificial intelligence (AI) already on the rise in primary and secondary schools, research from Nesta explores how AI can empower early years professionals to provide more high-quality and effective early childhood education and care experiences. The report, ‘Unlocking AI’s potential in early years education’, outlines where AI can help with what early years professionals need, and highlights why there’s not more innovation already happening in the sector.
TL;DR: A Panel on ‘AI in the early years’
It may have had the slightly provocative subtitle, Alexa, can you change a nappy? but the consensus of this panel chaired by Matt Arnerich (Senior Director of Brand and Comms, Famly) at the Nursery World conference was that in the early years we should be focussing on the potential of educator-facing AI.
How should we be approaching AI in the early years?
Richard Waite, a freelance early years online safety advisor, stressed that we need to reassure educators about the benefits of AI, but also make them aware of the pitfalls. First educators need to study it, understand it, get comfortable with it, then embrace it.
Taking a problem-first, rather than a technology-first approach, was important to Omar Idris, the Design Lead at Nesta, an innovation agency for social good. That means starting with a problem that feels relevant, and working to solve it with AI.
This was echoed by Angelica De Assis, the COO of the Little Elms group of nurseries and pre-schools. Parents are not sending children into nursery settings to engage with AI, but we should still be a community that is engaging with this technology at a system level. We should be thinking about being educator-facing and solving systemic problems. The ultimate aim is for AI to support us to do our jobs more efficiently than before.
What are some examples of successful adoption of AI in early years settings?
Panelists pointed to potential for AI to help across documentation and observation, admin and data capture/analysis, CPD and curriculum.
Like in many industries, repetitive administration is a pain point that AI is already being harnessed to solve. From taking meeting minutes, to data capture and analysis, and even improving or changing the tone and grammar of parent-facing material. Sidekick is Famly’s early year’s writing assistant, which educators can use to speed up and polish observations, assessments, and messages for parents.
There’s also potential in the continuous professional development space to support educators. It can also provide a more personal experience through simulation to test best practice (for example, a challenging interaction with a parent) in a safe environment. At a time when the government expects demand for places in early years settings to increase with the next phase of the expanded childcare offer, effective training of new early years practitioners will be essential.
In terms of curriculum, and as is already happening in primary and secondary schools, AI can support educators to create tailored learning experiences, enabling more personalised learning journeys for children.
What challenges do we need to fix?
Panellists pointed to issues around the tech readiness of the sector. Both in terms of mindset and culture, but also the physical/tech infrastructure, keeping in mind that AI is a very memory and energy intensive technology.
The system is stretched and educators don’t always have the time to stop and learn how to use a new tool, even one which can ultimately help reduce the administration workload in the medium term. Regulation and ethical guidance is still developing.
Finally, the market is fragmented. There are difficulties in helping innovators work with early years settings and connect directly with educators. Joining the two up, so that innovators work alongside educators and truly understand the context, is crucial to create solutions that really work for the sector.
What can content providers do?
Providers play a key role in helping to drive innovation, empower early years professionals and support high-quality and effective early childhood education.
- Carry out customer research with early years educators to truly understand their context and needs.
- Invest in AI to enhance the quality of assessment and developmental activities for children
- Test and gather feedback on AI solutions to provide robust evidence of benefits to early years settings
Get in touch to learn more about how Oriel Square can help you have an impact in early years settings.