Hurray! Early Childhood leaders are at last speaking out with the rest of us saying the Literacy targets and the use of phonics with this agegroup are damaging to young children. At this age, given the chance, children are keen to engage with print literacy but in ways that make sense to them.

Tricia David, Deal, UK

We assume that everyone has the good of society at heart and that all teaching should be standardised. I think by imposing complex rules on other peoples' children, there are people around who help their own children succeed in the race for worldly success, but they don't tell you. Be ware!

Brian Lewis, Manila, Philippines

Children should enjoy learning and learn through play. What good is setting children up to fail? I am so glad I removed my child from the mad targets and allow him to develop at his own rate. From a child who hated literacy and deemed a failure at K.S 1 &2, he is now studying on-line A level English

Liz Jolly, Fareham, UK

These targets are ridiculous. Most children under 6 are unable to understand how to apply phonics and are not ready for the literacy skills described. Imposing these targets on teachers will only lead to frustration and ensure that most children feel that they are failures from a very early age.

Dominica Pradere, Lucea, Jamaica

Working in a playgroup and having two children myself ages 3 and 4 with the elder in reception year at school I think these types of targets are madness. The result will be to disenfranchise young children at a time when learning should be exciting and fluid. Too much too soon.

Karen, Southend on Sea, England

Children learn through play. That is the philosophy we take in Switzerland and all formal education is postponed til 'the apple is ripe' around age seven. When the 'apple' ( brain ) is 'ripe' (developed ) then it is much quicker and simpler to absorb formal education. Happy children learn quicker!

Rachel Caires Nunes, Bern, Switzerland

High targets for preschoolers when UK children start school earlier than most. Is there evidence that this is the best way? The tortoise won the race by being steady. Giving children secure foundations so they have a broader understanding of language and numeracy makes formal methods easier later.

diana, derby,

If you read the quote from the report, one of the things it is saying is that differences in performance and possibly potential are showing up in children as young as four years old. Can we really say this and also claim that selection and/or streaming in schools is a bad thing?

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink.Children are not ready, let them play!
Do we want a society of soulless, robotic beings incapable of the joys of play?

Alex, London, U.K

I could read at 2 and write at 3 (though sadly my handwriting is probably still about this standard!). I went to a local private kindergarten at 3 and many of the kids there of my age could read/write a bit and all were taught over the next couple of years. That headstart stood me in fantastic stead

Kirsty, guildford,

Politicians have been tinkering with education for the last 60 years. Few 4 or 5 year old children can learn to read, write or spell. Attempts to force them only lead to then falling behind the more matured pupils and that state will remain with them forever.

4 year old kids should be playing.

Victor, NW Kent, Swanley, England

Nursery and Pre-school staff are not qualified to teach this work. It is the work of the teachers.What has happened to childhood play and learning to co-operate with each other and teachers.
Childrens play allows imagination to develop. Having to write it down will put constraints on ideas .

barbara, north east,

Aspirations, my eye! Ms Hugh's statement that "the goals were “aspirations”, not targets" is not only government double-speak, it is downright misleading. The EYFS legislation is full of "must" and "should", complete with guidelines coupled with legal targets. Me thinks you equivocate, Ms Hughes?

Richard Brinton, Stroud, UK