The official in charge of the Government’s curriculum for the underfives has resigned unexpectedly two months after it came into force.

Ruth Pimentel confirmed that she was leaving as national director of the Early Years Strategy. A spokesman would not give reasons for her departure other than to say that Ms Pimentel felt it was “time to move on”.

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework became compulsory for all preschool children in private, voluntary or state childcare in England in September. Under it, children are expected to meet 69 literacy, numeracy and problem-solving targets. Two of the most contentious were that children should write their name and begin to form simple sentences and use “phonic knowledge to write simple words”.

A panel on the Government’s Early Education Advisory Group described the targets as “overly ambitious for most children”.

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