Expanding Our Coding Toolkit – What Apps Do You Use in Primary?

Hi everyone,

In my primary school classroom I currently use apps and tools like ScratchJr, Delight Express (or did you mean “Delightex”?), Swift Playgrounds and robotics with LEGO. I’m looking to expand the suite of coding tools I use and I’d love to hear suggestions from other educators.

Here are my questions:

  1. What other apps or platforms have you found effective for teaching coding in a primary school setting (Years 3-6)?
  2. What makes them work well in your classroom (engagement, differentiation, ease of use, alignment with curricular outcomes)?
  3. Are there any that integrate well with iPads, are low-cost or free, and scalable for mixed-ability learners?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences. I'd be happy to compare notes and maybe test a couple of new ones next year!

2 replies

November 06, 2025 Language English

Hi! Love the setup you already have going ScratchJr, Swift Playgrounds and LEGO robotics is such a Good combo for primary kids!

If you’re looking to add a few more tools into the mix, here are some that my little friends have really enjoyed

Tynker – Kids get so into this one. It’s fun, colourful, and they feel like they’re actually “making games” rather than just doing tasks. It also grows with them, which is a big win.

codeSpark – This one is a lifesaver for younger learners or those who find reading tricky. It’s very visual and playful, so everyone feels successful right away.

🐾 Kodable – Super cute and great for teaching the basics like sequencing and loops. Works smoothly on iPads and doesn’t need much teacher setup.

November 06, 2025 Language English

Hello!

Amazing post! I teach 5th grade and have run a couple of different Swift Coding Clubs. With the older kids I normally start with scratch and then move into Swift Playgrounds. The kids really seem to enjoy both those environments. For the littler kids there is an Everyone can Code for Early Learners, but I am not seeing it in the Book Store.

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