Guy Merchant

Jane Medwell, director of teaching and learning at Nottingham University: a child who can't write is disenfranchised in society in so many ways. They don't have a voice.

Jonathan Rodgers, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education - children would benefit from learning to type when young.

Nina Iles, head of edtech, BESA: many children have very early interactions with tech. Through edu tech children are being exposed to concept of avatar. Very important to express themselves through both tech and writing.

Helen Boden, British Dyslexia Association: for a child who is dyslexic, handwriting can be a useful tool but the barrier comes when the cannot show what they know because their handwriting or lack of handwriting gets in the way. So tech can help them express themselves.

Diana Strauss, Write Dance Training: Agree with need both tech and handwriting. The point is we teach it well. It's got to enthuse them.

Medwell: writing is a massively complex cognitive task. Getting it to be automatic is so important

Boden: for our individuals, learning to touch type is key. Takes out a level of complexity. In most cases children aren't taught to make notes. So link to cognitive processing depends on how well this is taught.

Hana Emami, National Literacy Trust: I've seen tech bring children together and it's an asset to teaching

Iles: interesting aspect of tech for students is sharing of notes. In many ways enhancing communication and empowering students.