Under 5s don't need any of these targets; they don't even need to be at school! In countries in which they start their education later, they progress quicker because they are ready for formal learning. I'm not aware of any reasearch which suggest that earlier start produces better results.

Jennie, London, UK

Children under five do not need formal teaching, nor do they need lots of contact with peers. In order to grow into independent adults with an undamaged love of learning they need secure, close attachment to parents and opportunities to explore their world. Govt domination creates alienated people.

Lillybet, Swansea, Wales

There is the alternative of moms with sufficient financial means choosing to be fulltime homemakers rather than dumping their children into childcare so as to have it all.

MARK KLEIN, M.D., OAKLAND, CA , USA

Gordon Brown still isn't listening.

Despite his desperate plight and impending loss of office.

MarkS, Leeds,

As another childminder, I believe the EYFS is directly responsible for the dramatic fall in the number of childminders (nearly 10% since March 2007 when the EYFS was announced). Last quarter's Ofsted figures showed the 5th successive drop.

And if I don't gain exemption, I will be joining them.

Pat, Warrington, England

Luckily my youngest will be over 5 by the time new rules come into place. I would rather leave the country than allow a child of mine to be controlled in this way.

Have these idiots not read the new! What we need to improve is social skills, not the ability to tick boxes.

Philip Loveridge, Chichester, England

A suggestion would be to use web cams in the classrooms. That way working parents can log on at any time and see their child's progress and social behaviour. This is used in a few playgroups across Hong Kong. It lets the grandparents see their little ones when they live far away too.

Francoise Perks, Lamma Island, Hong Kong

That's why I homeschool my children. The Government can't tell me what to teach my children. And we're teaching them that people like Mr. Brown, Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush are destroying our planet.

Catherine, Leeds, UK

After this measure, China will offer more freedom to its citizens than Britain when it comes to educating young children, which is pretty astonishing. For goodness sake, Britons, wake up and put some breaks on the government!

Stewart, Beijing,

Totaltarian control of the classroom is just one plank of the sinister shadow group called Common Purpose, they have infiltrated every level of government, civil service and police. Their aim is a Socialist State with total control of the lives and freedom of us all, Fight back now.

Ken thePom, Melbourne, Australia

I am teaching in the US, where the obsession with meaningless testing from pre K onwards has decimated the spirit of both the students and the teachers. I thought Britain had more sense, but obviously not.

Rachel, Los Angeles, USA

5 year olds don't need numerical skills and all this assessment. They don't even need to be at school. Plenty of countries' school starting age is more than 5 and they do better than the UK. Children don't need all these tests - all they should do at 5 is eat, sleep and have fun.

Meera, Reading, UK

Most european countries do not require children to even start school until they are 7 years old. Starting children too soon destroys their love of learning and you end up with disillusioned unambitious individuals who never learn to be creative or think for themselves. Labour is destroying the UK

Suzy, Woking, England

Ok, isn't it what parents are in charge of? Theaching children respect for diversity, awareness of other's needs... please remember that being parent's involves a lot more than giving birth and paying expensive schools. Children need neither maths nor literature but love and self confidence.

Daniela, Hampshire,

You are getting closer to a North Korean society every day.

Gareth Jones, Dusseldorf, Germany

Under 5s need social skills and play. The teachers need to be freed up to interact and perhaps identify "high-needs" children who are struggling at these levels.

Labour lacks common-sense in everything it tries to over-control - I sometimes thing 5 year olds could run the Country better !!!

Sam Redman, London, UK

One further reason, among the many,for kicking these pedantic control junkies out of government.Only a desperate fool would place educational straightjackets on such young children.
Who dreams up these stupid ideas ?

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

Childminders, like myself will also have to deliver the EYFS. A spokesman from the DCSF has said that the frame work is flexible, but we're going to be bending over backwards dealing with babies, nappies, meals, playing and LOVING(in EYFS attachment !)the children now we have to tick boxes too!Help!

Christine, Weymouth, UK

Since the 70's the whole education system has been experimenting with children's education. Children, like puppies, learn through play and experience. I am so glad that my children and grandchildren have passed through the primary stage and have been spared this latest experiment.

Suzi Donne, Fethiye, Mugla, Turkeh

Why hire expensively trained teachers to act as time and motion operatives and demoralise them by not allowing them to teach, as their time is filled with rather useless occupations?

Susan Donne, Fethiye, Mugla, Turkey

Brown, Balls and Adonis and co will not rest until every facet of life is under their minute control. And they wonder why we despise this government so much. This is a dangerous, pernicious administration.

MJ, London,

comrades! tractor production is up 200% and the harvest of under 5's is plentiful. "Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed" Joseph Stalin.

bob, wirral,

The children who were infants when Labour came to power in 1997 have suffered an entire education blighted by obsessive tinkering and ludicrous target-driven initiatives.

Qualifications have been dumbed down and devalued in order to achieve the politicians' desire for ever-improving results.

Sad.

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

"even if they have to work hard to get there. I can't honestly see anything wrong with that"
Pauline Renton

Since when do children under FIVE years old have to work HARD?? The only purpose this lunacy will serve is to lead to generations of total NEUROTICS! Oh right - future Labour voters.....

Helen, Vancouver, Canada

It's straight from Orwell, brainwash children then they can be easily controlled as adults. meanwhile keep the rebellious adult population quiet by labelling them sexist, racist, homophobic, islamophobic. For good measure destroy the strength of family and you have total control. Kick them out.

john, lincoln,

The one answer people are missing is the answer of voting with our feet and not sending the pre-school age children to school.

I would love to teach in the main stream, but the paperwork and the national curiculm is a joke, its labour micro managing the children.

Nicola Clubb, bournemouth,

Let the kids play. Give them fields to run through, trees to climb and mud to enjoy.

Frank, Oxford, England UK

'Re Arthur Pendragon'- I don't think schooling starting at 7 is the answer - literacy rates in Russia speak for themselves. But part of what you say is true. Early years education should be more about learning through play whilst embedding the basics. Standardised testing is totally irrelevant at 5.

Stephen, Norwich, Norfolk

It doesn't seem to me that any of the above respondents have actually worked in a Reception class with 30 children.

They have nearly all made unrelated, daft comments, which do not apply to encouraging 4 - 5 year olds to achieve in the classroom - most of their learning IS through play.

Annie Hancock, Bath, UK

Off course its interference by Government! Wake up, they are Stalinist with central control mania (proven to have failed in not only the USSR but everywhere!).

Nothing like a bit of brain washing.

Aspirations not targets? Who is lying yet again! Labour is all about targets. Stalin tried that too.

Richard, London,

I am so pleased that my children are long past that stage. I hate the thought that they should have to jump through targets from birth.

Jenny, Reading,

This Government simply does not understand that the people do not want to be micro managed and any parent will know that the teaching of social skills is all that is needed up to the age of five. GORDON BROWN - If you say you will listen and learn, do it NOW and sack Beverley Hughes.

Mark Hamill-Stewart, Bangkok, Thailand

The national curriculum was brought in originally to ensure that all students learned the basic 3Rs. It was NOT so that the government can micromanage what and how students learn so we can all become good little socialists. It will stifle creativity and hinder normal child development - it is wrong.

Kevin, Workington, UK

Out of touch again. Parents from deprived backgrounds, in the main, do not send their chidren to pre-school and kindergarten. They cannoy afford it. What happened to learning through play and using this period to develop social skills. Another reason to keep kids out of school

Patrick, Taipei, Taiwan

Bloody socialists feel like they have to micromanage every aspect of one's life - and always make a complete mess of whatever it is they're trying to accomplish.

Why is it the state always feels like they know better than the child's parents? This is complete insanity!

Karen, Newmarket, Canada

Why can't the government prioritise social and personal skills, there is plenty of time for testing and standardising their education. This is little more than a clumsy attempt by outgoing ministers to leave an unwelcome legacy.

Iain McAdam, Sydney, Australia

You have to laugh or you would cry. Children tested and expected to have good levels of literacy at 5 (yes, five) years old is utterly ridiculous. What happen to the joy of the story read to you, the spark of imagination while playing? These are sad days indeed for our over examined children.

Julie, Dubai,

"Education! Education! Education!" was once a seductive summing-up of Labour party policy. Forget 10p Income Tax, 42-day detention, Northern Rock, the broken referendum promise, - even the folly of invading Iraq. This govt. would deserve the sack for its pig-headed failures in education alone.

Ian McMorran, Shanghai, China

Children at this age should be playing. That is how they learn.

'Play is the universal language of children'

Paul Cooper, Cirencester, UK

My Swedish grandson, now 18, did not commence formal learning until he was 7. Prior to that all was play, some structured and some free. Development was better than a formal approach, for him and his peers of all backgrounds. Government should stop misguided manipulation!

William Cowburn, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, UK

My Swedish grandson, now 18, did not commence formal learning until he was 7. Prior to that all was play, some structured and some free. Development was better than a formal approach, for him and his peers of all backgrounds. Government should stop misguided manipulation!

William Cowburn, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, UK

Good on these schools. This curriculum is nonsense and leaves Teachers ticking boxes instead of teaching and starts the process of turning children into a number. Get rid of Labour, it's the country's only hope.

judy, Liverpool, England

EYFS docs are online. Judge for yourself. By 40 months children should "Have an awareness of, and interest in, cultural and religious differences", & should "Understand that people have different needs, view, cultures, and beliefs, that need to be treated with respect."

Steep for many 3 yr olds!!

Dr R.A. Hayes, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Obviously we are lagging behind the rest of the world in educational matters. We need to start school as soon as the child can walk. No point wasting time on playing with sand, get into fluistics and calculus instead. Every child should be on an organic chemistry programme by age six.

Piaget who?

irp, Huddersfield,

The sooner we have this shower out,the better!
As a former teacher,I am utterly appalled at what this government has done,and is continuing to do,to our children.
Now,standards and testing of the under 5s.Whatever next?
I am so glad I am out of all this,but it breaks my heart to see it.

Barbara Marfleet, Wakefield, England

Thank goodness that the Independent Schools Council has the common-sense, courage and honesty to say these things to a Government determined to control every aspect of our lives. It is also good that the ISC can show a united front; other areas just split and cave in when faced with Govt pressure.

Marjorie Wallace, York, UK

@Sam, Sheffield: That's waht's behind all this targetting: The state does not want to educate personalities but human ressources to be exploited at will. It's the same in Germany - and it's a huge step backwards.

KDB, Coburg, Saxe-Coburg

This is not completely wrong, as long as it is for the youngsters to aspire too!
They will need to have play at usual times otherwise they will turn off on the subjects that bore them.
What we really need is a two tier system of schools, so that the faster learners and slower are partitioned,

jonathan rose, great torington, uk

It's a pity that schools weren't in revolt years ago over the primary curriculum; had they been so, it might not have come to this lunacy.

Robert, Hull, East Yorkshire

John Stuart Mill was taught Greek and basic algebra before the age of five, and he became the greatest philosopher of the 19th century. True, he hated is father for inflicting it upon him, and had a nervous breakdown at twenty, but you can't expect the New Labour drones to think of that.

James, Newcastle,

Values clarification, including respect for Islam and third-world minorities must be imprinted on these impressionable young minds. For example, in some cultures handwashing is not a custom, in others it is. Each child should be taught to make these types of decisions for themselves.

Jaya el-Chazir, Camden, Australia

I like all these comments....what I don't understand is how come so many Brits vote NuLab ! We did this when we voted Mitterand.......and since evryone now knows what socialisme means. Sharing what belongs to others, spending more than you earn and doing what I say not what I do. Simple isn't it ?

E. Bee, Toulouse, France

The loophole offered by the education ministry should be filled. lndependent, and other, pre-schools and nurseries should hand parents a letter to sign, demandng for exemption for their child from the 65 requirements. This should be done en masse. Katie Ivens, Campaign for Real Education

katie ivens, london,

I work in a school with 'outstanding' early years practice, which is centred around exploratory learning and sets no targets for the early years. Yet we have been using this since it was first published last year. Used properly it is an excellent document which should be read by all educators.

AG, Wells,,

'even if they have to work hard to get there. I can't honestly see anything wrong with that.' -Pauline

You honestly can't see anything wrong with children under 5 "WORKING HARD" !!!
Then I assume you have no issue with them 'working hard' in say..cotton mills....industrial plants...mines...?

Sam, Sheffield,

If the independent sector is granted an exemption from these tests, then this sector will look more attractive to parents who want their children to perform well. The gap in attainment between pupils educated privately and those educated by the state will probably widen even more.

Des, Edinburgh,

There are still many young children who do not attend nursery schools.
So how long will it be before it is compulsory to put them into a nursery school so that government figures can be produced for every child under 5?
It beggars belief that this can be happening here in Britain.

madquofan, Potters Bar, UK

It is a pity that the article did not say what this new law actualy is !!!! It could have been a good article.

Robert , Reading,

Another nasty diktat from the modern Nasty Party.

Steamkettle, Gosport,

The NFS encourages teachers to provide children with exciting environments in which to play and learn - not by formal teaching and testing! Adults should be able to join children's play (not take over), be skilled in subtle teaching and note what children can do (ie assess with parents, colleagues).

Tricia David, Deal, UK

I agree with all the comments deriding this over prescriptive approach. But it is not simply a New Labour failing. This goes back to Baker's 1988 national curriculum. Both parties are responsible for feeding bureaucratic monoliths such as OFSTED, which will grow fatter on monitoring yet more targets

Mark , Hull, UK

I'd be more impressed if the argument was on children's human rights instead of parents and if ISC schools weren't worried about financial implications of staffing levels.

diana, derby,

Yeah, depressing. Most depressing is the lamentably low level of creativity and imagination shown in solving the problem. What about play-groups in the communities, using television creatively, getting Wayne and Becks involved, using pop world? But no...more control with clip boards. God help us!

Mike Hughes, Copenhagen,

Whether or not a child is ready for structured learning/play before the age of 5 depends on the child. My eldest is ASD and he wasn't developmentally ready for the early years curriculum. He has problems with speech, communication and fine motor skills. My youngest, barely 3 yrs, is learning to read

M, Beds,

A politician (one of Labour's painfully dim female ministers, I think) once stated that they woudn't rest until ALL children achieved above-average exam results.

With intellects like that in charge, what hope is there?

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

Early years has been using a curriculum since 2001,this is just updated and bought into 1 document instead of 4 different ones.Both old and new emphasise the importance of play!
Independant school should stop whinging, they are happy to claim government funding for children attending their setting!

Diane, Swindon,

Just let children play and enjoy life.This intervention is going to put children off learning for life.These ministers have no idea about how children develop a love of learning through normal play activiyies with minimum adult involvement. This is the socialist approach. the state knows best.

Roger Parkes, Tunbridge Wells, England

How much more nanny-ish and absurd can politicians get! What Whitehall ivory tower mandarins advise them, and what do they know? This is now way for a govienment to win friends, much less influence people.

bob wilkinson, milnthorpe, cumbria uk

Why not encourage all our politicians and pundits to take a mass sabbatical - for say the next 6 months - and try mixing with ordinary people "on the ground" day by day.

bob wilkinson, milnthorpe, cumbria uk

I knew there was something seriously wrong with our education system when I studied the products of that system who are now in government.

david, Gloucester,

This Govt is determined to plough on with its policy of reducing education to its lowest common denominator. It called social engineering. Now they are fooling about with the education of the under fives. But then the Sec of States is "So what" Balls. Just what I expect of him. Yuck!!!!

M. Cawdery, Portadown, Co. UK, EU.

As a teacher, and a mother of 2 kids under 6, it is my opinion that this strategy is educationally worthless. What's needed is cheaper, good-quality, easily-available nursery provision for all children including those in deprived areas, but I guess that's more expensive than tick-boxes for teachers.

Judy, Soton,

Balls and Cooper in the 'cabinet' are hopeless. Their sole expertise is claiming state expenses. Their children are at a 'failing' school. Why should they organise better for other children? They live in London, but claim (blatant lie) that it is their 2nd home, so claim huge expenses.

gb, London,

Either I am missing something, or I am labouring (sorry - pun not intended!) under a misapprehension here ... is it not the case that that providing formal education is an option for parents before the child reaches five years of age?

Maggie, South London , uk

Education is what survives when what has been learnt has been forgotten. I fear that at the conclusion of their schooling our childrenwill be in danger of having had no education at all.

de lloyd, cardiff,

This government cannot help itself - it interferes with everything that it shouldn't. Create new industries? Why doesn't it deal with the main problems? Illegal immigrants, initiate border control, stop payments to all the polygamists for 2nd, 3rd etc. wives, harsh sentences and deterrents for criminal

Disillusioned, Birmingham,

This is just unbelievable. Who on earth do these people think they are to impose on parents and tiny children ,barely out of nappies, a detailed prescription for achievments which have to also be monitored and documented. This is nothing short of authoritarianism as bad as the days of Stalin.

Deb Hoyle, Banchory,

I fully support the new standards. It is essential for a child's all round improvement. I notice a Montessori already does it. Why shouldn't children from all sections of the society have the same privilege?

Jagadish, Bromley, UK

I used to think Britain was somehow "ahead" of other European countries in beginning formal education at 4 instead of 6. But on the Continent they achieve more, faster, by starting later. Practically no Italian child can read or write at 5 but by 7/8 they can all read and write perfectly.

Claire, Italy,

This Government will never rule again. A massive demonstration is needed to end this appaling decision to test 5 year olds.

M John, Plymouth, UK

Under fives should be in an environment to stimulate them and get them interested, but first and foremost they are small children who need to play and feel secure. This country's education system is far from enviable and this looks like more of a disaster in the making.

Sara, London,

Yet another Balls up!!

Viv, London, England

Many children are just not ready to read at 5, let alone 4. All they learn if you try to force them is how to fail, and that is a hard lesson to unlearn.

Paula Hill, Montreux, Switzerland

It is only four years ago that Beverly Hughes - as Immigration Minister - had to resign over a visa scam row. So why is she now the Children's Minister?

DC, Newcastle,

Real experts can tell the government that testing preschoolers will not help : it's time they stopped using children as guinea pigs and listened. Also I wonder what, in this context, distinguishes a target from an 'aspiration'

annie, brighton,

Standards DO have to be high. In the long run, only a superior workfoorce can justify higher wages.

Rui, Lisbon, Portugal

This approach wiil (rightly) be regarded as too prescriptive for kids from middle class backgrounds, where parents take an active interest in their child's education. But it's not designed for them. It aims to instill the learning ethic into kids whose parents don't give a damn about education.

Alan Gooch, Honiton,

Targets and paperwork distract teachers from teaching. They do, however, provide highly-paid jobs for inspectors and other talentless jobsworths!

Jonathan Webster, Nottingham, England

Children under five should not be getting any formal learning. They should be developing their curiosity and motor, language and social skills. This is informal learning and all children are preprogrammed to do it. There is no need to do anything to further it other that provide a rich environment.

Rosemary, Liverpool,

more paper work less time for children and even worse bad practice of tick box targets for those who don't understand they are "aspirations"??? . parenst don't work to aspirations they see targets and noramality. If children don't hit the targets we will see 'failing' children at under five !.

TC, farnham , uk

Nanny state at work again. I despair at the constant intrusion of this Government. Looking at the incompetance of this Govt at ministerial level i would suggest they are the last group to be interferring in our childrens education. Perhaps they are preparing them for future socialsit brain washing.

Paul Anthony, reading, uk

We must follow chairman Brown! We must do as the little red book says!. We must stop children being children!....

Thank God it looks like these NuLabour Marxists will be chucked out of Government soon.

Gareth Lloyd, Crowthorne, UK

All the evidence suggests that literacy/numeracy goals are better met when children start formal schooling later (at 7) as they do in Sweden or Russia, allowing early years for free play, exploration of the world and social development.

Arthur Pendragon, Moscow, Russia

You would not want the government to interfer in the day to day running of supermarkets and the same should go for schools.

People have many views and theories on education, so let the people send their children to schools that support those views,

roger, london,

The Govt wants to tackle the problem of children born into the underclass who are already way behind educationally and socially by the time they leave infant school. It is going about it by imposing tests and an educational straitjacket on those who are not 'failing.' Usual Labour control-freakery.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

I despair
I agree with Sue .Learning should natural and enjoyable in those early years
At the other end of the scale...
Writing to Ed Balls I hope will elicit a different response from the nonsene I received,on a query,basically exam content at A level was not his concern!!!!

Lizabeth ,, Darlington, England

Bring it on! Crazy National Curriculum, pointless targets - oops - aspirations, worthless diplomas, inclusion, Ofsted, carbon trading, CCTV. We'll soon see the final destruction of socialism and what is so delightful is they still don't get it!

Sean, Droitwich, UK

I am shocked but not surprised by this. We are suffering comparable nonsense in adult education, with increasing demands for the production (in practice, fabrication) of meaningless records, and the introduction of intellectually insulting new qualifications for lecturers.

Richard Baron, London,

'It seems to me that the basic intention is to make sure children have good literacy by the time they are five . . . '

What does 'good literacy' mean? It's meaningless until you define it. Any why should 'good literacy' --whatever it might mean--be our primary concern for our five year olds?

TF, London,

Children develop very differently in the early years - some 5 year olds may be able to grasp writing and numeracy, whilst others will struggle. Surely it is better to allow a pre-school child to be just that - a child? Social skills are more important at that age. Formal learning will soon follow

Sue Meredith, La Vinuela, Spain

The government only wants targets so that it can say 'Look at what we have achieved'. The fact that the under fives are the ones who will be suffering so that the government can demonstrate 'success' does not bother this government. Most European countries don't start formal education until 6.

Penny, Letchworth, Herts

It seems to me that the basic intention is to make sure children have good literacy by the time they are five, even if they have to work hard to get there. I can't honestly see anything wrong with that.

Pauline Renton, Camberley, UK

There's a very important difference between "applying an exemption"and "applying for an exemption" which concerns me as a citizen. Strictly speaking it's a citizens right to apply any exemption. We shouldn't need eg "permission" or need to "appeal" to anybody when we don't consent to this service.

Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley, Bacup,

A government syllabus - reports in writing - formal testing on 69 writing, problem solving and literacy skills -- for children under FIVE?
This is not even New Labour, this is sheer madness. At that age children should play, draw, hear stories - not sit down for written tests!

Harry, Oxford,

May be it is an unadvisable approch to do so , the education wokers of the goverment should appeal to change,so as our contry!

sujuanli, Beijing, China

Thank god my children are now too old to be affected by this appallingly dogmatic and sterile approach to childhood. This government yet again shows its overweening desire to control every aspect of our lives. DIctated to every waking moment, watched by CCTV wherever we go how free are we now?

paul, london, UK

Is there no end to NuLab lunacy? Where next? The kindergarten perhaps, or maybe the maternity ward. 'The baby's not smiling - must be lacking social skills'.

Will this social intrusion experiment be extended to parents wishing to monitor the dysfunctional PC idiocy of teachers?

emmie, London, England

Womb to the tomb, what a high price you are paying for socialism. Fight back hard slap this downyou Independents!
In America our gov seems to try to steal more of our parental rights by way of Edu about 5-6 years after they make sure Brits "took it on the chin" and didn't fight for their rights.

Terri Dance, Salisbury, Missouri, USA

'A tear trickled down his cheek. He loved Big Brother'.
Is this what we have come to under a Labour government?

prudence eely bond mcguire, London , England UK