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A new national curriculum for all under-fives risks producing a “tick-box” culture in nursery schools that relies too heavily on formal learning and not enough on play, teachers’ leaders will claim today.
The new Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS), which becomes law in the autumn, lays down up to 500 developmental milestones between birth and primary school and requires under-fives to be assessed on writing, problem solving and numeracy skills. It will apply to about 25,000 nurseries, plus registered childminders in England.
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said that it was not yet clear how the early years curriculum would be evaluated by the schools inspectorate Ofsted. He said, however, that there was a danger that teachers could allow compliance with the new framework to become more important than creativity.
“The curriculum itself is not the danger,” he said. “The danger is that external examiners will develop a tick-box attitude to every aspect of the curriculum to see if staff have done it.”
He added that the worst thing for the early years curriculum would be for it to be a “compliance curriculum”.
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Ratios are my concern with the EYFS. I work in a nursery in a state primary school. We have 52 kids in a session with a ratio of 1 :13. We have children with social and behaviour problems and it is impossible to provide quality care for all. 1:13 is unsafe even with a teacher and experienced staff.
Amanda Gingell, Mitcham, Surrey
And they want out of school clubs to do this too!
EYFS is for under 5 year olds - we have no under fives - what a waste of training and paperwork!
EYFS is not for Out Of School Clubs!!
Mo, Cambridge, England
In my opinion, this is simply another step to government controlled indoctrination of the next generation. One only receives "approved" information from government funded schools. Home-School your children unless you want them to only learn what the government deems acceptable.
Casey, Fresno, Ca.
Of course robots do not asl critical questions, they do not need to think they only have to follow instructions
Alex, Londion,
Oh come on. This is being made out to be much worse than it is. I work in a pre-school setting and my colleague and I are using the EYFS. Activities are fun and the children are learning at the same time. There is no regime. We plan and become flexible through the children's play.
When the above article says that children will be "assessed" on writing, problem solving and numeracy skills surely this is part of everyday life anyway. For instance when a child spills a drink and starts making marks with their finger - beginning of writing - and we will make a note as this is so positive. Numeracy skills- counting children, plates and cups at snack time. Problem solving/social skills for example a child snatches some play dough off an older child. The older child says no you need to ask and after two attempts of snatching the younger child asks for play dough and gets some.
Jacqui Wilkinson, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
I would like to know views on Tony Blair's policy on eradicating child poverty. Is it going to work? What actions need to be taken? Is Gordan Brown taking it on? What can we do?
Can people spend time complaining about the EYFS which is very flexible and can be made as exciting or as boring and a pain as you want or is child poverty the real issue!!
Jacqui Wilkinson, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
What ever happened to "let children be children"? Children under 5 should be playing, socialising, learning to share and cooperate; not being assessed on writing and maths. Why so much pressure? No wonder research showed UK children were among the most unhappiest.
I am so glad my parents chose to come to NZ in the 1970's, we certainly don't have the same pressures here, and we still manage to produce more than our share of achievers from our small pool of 4 million.
Lynne, Auckland, New Zealand
The Hitler regime was not as controling and manipulative than UK or USA"s regimes!
Shaffner, Louisville,Ky, USA
Entirely ridiculous isn't it? Vote these paranoid meddlers, who haven't yet managed to improve anything, out.
judy, Liverpool, England