аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±

Research by the National Education Union has found children as young as three are being grouped by ‘ability’ to prepare for Phonics Screening Check and Key stage 1 SATs.

 

Commenting on the research, Melanie Pilcher, quality and standards manager at the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

“Grouping very young children by ability goes against the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and its emphasis on the ‘unique’ child. Unfortunately, as this report demonstrates, this is becoming increasingly commonplace as early years practitioners respond to a wider trend towards schoolification, where the focus is shifted towards a need to manage larger groups of children at the expense of learning opportunities planned around the needs of each individual child.

“This push towards grouping risks ignoring the simple fact that children learn and develop in different ways. Not only does this have a negative impact on the children, it also means practitioners have less professional space in which to build a truly enabling learning environment. The emphasis in early learning should be to ensure every child is meeting their expected levels of development and that, if there is cause for concern, it is addressed in partnership with the child’s parents and/or carers. This report shows that isn’t necessarily happening at most settings.

“The government’s recent proposals to reintroduce the failed baseline assessment make this a particularly timely report. On that issue, the report’s findings are clear: assessment in reception will lead to more ‘teaching to the test’ throughout the early years and first years of school. We can be in no doubt this would further limit the breadth of the youngest children’s education and taint their experience and enjoyment of school from the very beginning.

ENDS

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

• The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.

• Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.