Johannesburg - You’ve just picked up you toddler from playschool. He or she is grumpy and didn’t finish the lunch you packed.

Instead of making a mental note to have a quick word with their teacher the following morning, you simply pull out the iPad your child uses at creche from their backpack and look at the notes the teacher has written to you, informing you how your little one fared at school that day.

The report, which the teacher writes daily, tells you about your child’s behaviour at creche that day, the mood they were in, how they scored in their class activities, and generally how their day was.

You’ll enjoy this privilege, though, only if your child goes to The Little Ashford Preschool, Africa’s first creche to use iPads in the classroom.

The creche first opened its doors in Saxonwold, Joburg, at the end of 2009 and has recently opened its second campus in Bryanston, Sandton.

Little Ashford’s founder, Jena Mukina, set up the pre-school after she couldn’t find one suitable for her own child.

Six months later, she was joined by her business partner, Marli Hoffman, who is now principal of the creche.

Hoffman was at the Sandton iStore, giving other preschool teachers pointers on how to integrate iPads in preschool education.

Hoffman said only children from two years old use the iPads.

The youngest use them for a maximum of five minutes a day and the older children for no more than 20 minutes.

- The Star