School starting age
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School starting age
I shall post this without comment as I have made my views on this clear already so many times on this site. But a tiny little bit more support for my opinions. As someone on the generally horribly predictable comment thread said, a voice in the wilderness - but worth trying to publicise it anyway.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/ed ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/ed ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: School starting age
Completely, utterly, wholeheartedly AGREE!!
Re: School starting age
+1. I would say we should wait till 7yrs i.e DCs should start school after their 7th B'day.
My grandmother used to say that first seven years of life are very important and children should have full freedom then they will develop the right body-mind capacity to learn. Right, wrong, discipline, education, manners and etiquettes should start after 7th birthday.
My grandmother used to say that first seven years of life are very important and children should have full freedom then they will develop the right body-mind capacity to learn. Right, wrong, discipline, education, manners and etiquettes should start after 7th birthday.
Re: School starting age
I am aghast at the idea of a formal baseline test at the age of four. Absolutely they should be playing at this age. It is completely wrong that children are expected not only to attend school in Reception but to stay at school all day.
Before mine went to school they attended a fantastic (and sadly now closed as the owner had had enough of OFSTED) old fashioned nursery school two or three mornings a week where they played indoors and out, sang and socialised with each other. They loved it and learned so much about being human beings. It's the lack of play and socialisation that seems so damaging to me about starting formal school so early.
Before mine went to school they attended a fantastic (and sadly now closed as the owner had had enough of OFSTED) old fashioned nursery school two or three mornings a week where they played indoors and out, sang and socialised with each other. They loved it and learned so much about being human beings. It's the lack of play and socialisation that seems so damaging to me about starting formal school so early.
Re: School starting age
DDs experience doing a placement before beginning her teacher training course was that many of the reception children spent much of their time crying or looking sad because they wanted to be at home. Really cruel to send them to an institution at the age of 4 or 5 or 6 - reminiscent of the victorians and they don't really learn anything for umpteen years anyway. Whatever they painfully learn in infant school will be picked up quickly enough in year 3.
All 3 of my children would have failed baseline tests miserably!
All 3 of my children would have failed baseline tests miserably!
Re: School starting age
DDs experience doing a placement before beginning her teacher training course was that many of the reception children spent much of their time crying or looking sad because they wanted to be at home. Really cruel to send them to an institution at the age of 4 or 5 or 6 - reminiscent of the victorians and they don't really learn anything for umpteen years anyway. Whatever they painfully learn in infant school will be picked up quickly enough in year 3.
All 3 of my children would have failed baseline tests miserably!
All 3 of my children would have failed baseline tests miserably!