Touch Typing for Schools
Choosing good touch typing software
A good typing tutor should teach finger placement quickly and logically. It needs enough variety to build muscle memory without endless repetition. The best tutors also use meaningful vocabulary, not strings of random letters or nonsense words. Clear design features help learners move skills into the unconscious, and a teacher package should make it easy to monitor progress.
Vocabulary is crucial when building muscle memory. The software must use words children actually need and know how to spell. In many other typing programs, the word lists aren’t designed with literacy or education in mind. Whether you’re starting to teach typing or looking for better results, Englishtype can help. Touch typing for children has never been more important.
To get the best results, set clear goals. Either touch typing with full muscle memory or improved keyboard familiarity. Englishtype supports both approaches, but typing with automatic muscle memory offers the biggest benefits. For SEN pupils, it can completely transform written work.
BBC Bitesize Dance Mat Touch Typing
Englishtype is a specialist touch typing company, teaching touch typing for 25+ years and expert in skill acquisition. Englishtype was created by an Educational Psychologist, educational designer of BBC Schools Dance Mat Typing. If, like lots of schools, you are using BBC Touch Typing Bitesize / Dance Mat and are serious about teaching typing, it’s time to upgrade to Englishtype.
Teaching Children to Touch Type Across The Globe
Englishtype is designed to support children of all abilities in the classroom. Its multi-sensory approach and clear structure help pupils learn effectively, whether they need extra support or greater challenge.
The carefully selected vocabulary is based on trusted sources. Including Alpha to Omega and the National Curriculum Spelling Appendix. This makes sure lessons are both relevant and educational.
Used by thousands of children worldwide, Englishtype has been tested in real classroom settings and continuously improved. With feedback from teachers and learners, making it a reliable and flexible tool for schools.
Englishtype supporting charity work in Indonesia
Learning To Type in School
Mainstream children, over their academic life, will produce hundreds of thousands of words in homework, coursework, essays, and dissertations. Touch typing is a tangible, easy to demonstrate, skill that increases employability. Professional careers like doctors, vets, solicitors and teachers must produce all kinds of written work very regularly. Keyboard skills are useful in almost all professions as records and customer information is computerised – builders, car mechanics, sales assistants – almost everyone uses a keyboard. Get your pupils to touch type and give them a skill for life and an advantage over peers. So many schools teach computer coding these days – but you can’t be a coder without being able to touch type!
Praise From Our Customers
Touch typing for Special Needs pupils – life changing
Learning to touch type has many benefits for Special Needs individuals, and is invaluable, or even life changing. Access to a laptop and being able to touch type properly is transformative. Written work with a pen is usually a disliked and/or upsettingly difficult process. The quality of work is not comparable with cognitive ability, and self esteem is often also damaged. Learning to type also benefits reading, spelling, comprehension & vocabulary.
The main benefit of touch typing is that it helps move the skill into muscle memory. This means typing becomes a more natural physical skill rather than something a child has to think through step by step. Muscle memory is powerful, and once touch typing is established, it can make written work much easier.
When children can type by touch, they often become more accurate and faster. It can also support spelling, reduce visual strain, lower physical strain on the hands, and ease pressure on the conscious brain. As typing becomes more automatic, children are able to focus more on their ideas and the content of their work.
Englishtype is carefully structured to support a wide range of special educational needs. This includes dyslexia, dyspraxia, fine motor difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger’s, semantic pragmatic difficulties, language disorders, slow processing issues and visual impairment.
SENCOs, specialist teachers, support units and teaching assistants across the country use Englishtype to help pupils build confidence and improve written work. For many children, it can help turn writing from a source of frustration into a source of pride.
Practicalities for teaching typing
ONLINE VERSION FOR SCHOOLS AVAILABLE!
Prices shown are an annual subscription, per pupil, per year (12 month period). Licences can be reallocated within the 12 months, so if a pupil leaves and you delete their account, that licence can be assigned to a new pupil. (See our Terms & Conditions).
System Requirements: Windows 7 or later; Apple Mac needs to be Catalina 10.15 or higher. Please use a modern browser like Chrome, Edge or Safari. If you use Firefox, it must be V103 or later. Englishtype can’t run on iPads or Android devices – you can try, it works on some high-end devices.
If you want to:
- Buy more than 10 licences;
- Pay by Purchase Order or BACs or Cheque;
- or are worried about online usage/broadband performance,
Please get in touch with us or give us a call on 01557 870967.
Englishtype for Schools
Online Version
Children can start using Englishtype from around seven years old. Englishtype Junior is generally recommended for primary school pupils up to age 11.
Englishtype Senior is usually recommended after this and uses words and activities suited to older learners. However, these are guidelines rather than strict age limits. Schools can choose the version that best suits each pupil’s age, ability and preferences.
Regular practice is important because touch typing relies on muscle memory. Short sessions of around 10 to 15 minutes can work well for many pupils.
Schools should aim for several sessions each week where possible. Frequent practice usually produces better results than one long session each week.
Yes. Englishtype includes teacher administration tools that help schools manage pupils and classes. Teachers can review results and see how pupils are progressing through the course.
Results can also be printed or exported. Pupils can earn certificates to mark their progress and celebrate their achievements.
Englishtype is carefully structured to support pupils with a wide range of needs. This includes dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, visual impairment, slow processing and fine motor difficulties.
The programme uses colour coding, clear instructions and a step-by-step structure. Pupils can work at their own pace and repeat activities when they need more practice. It may also support a touch typing recommendation within an EHCP.
Yes. Pupils using the online version can log in from school or home. This allows them to continue practising outside lesson time.
Combining school sessions with home practice can help pupils build their skills more quickly. They will need a compatible computer and a suitable internet connection.
Englishtype works on Windows computers, Macs and Chromebooks through a modern web browser. Schools can use browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Safari. Firefox version 103 or later is also supported.
The programme is not designed for iPads or Android tablets. A computer with a physical keyboard offers the best learning experience.
Yes. School licences run for 12 months and can be reassigned during that period. If a pupil leaves, the school can delete their account and give the licence to another pupil.
Schools that need more than ten licences can contact Englishtype for pricing and payment options. These include purchase orders, BACS and cheques.