Nursery World - Analysis: Select Committee Curriculum report - Don't destroy good early years practice

Evidence is growing that the early learning goals for literacy do not support a play-based ethos and are too stressful for under-fives. But will the Government listen? asks Wendy Scott.

The Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families has recently completed an inquiry into the curriculum. It includes four recommendations relating to the early years (News, 9 April).

The committee welcomes the Government's request that Jim Rose should consider two of the early learning goals (ELGs) for communication, language and literacy as part of his current review of the primary curriculum, and draws attention to the near-universal support for the reconsideration of the ELGs directly concerned with reading, writing and punctuation.

The report recommends that all five literacy goals should be removed pending the review of the EYFS next year. It also proposes this review should evaluate whether the statutory framework is too prescriptive.

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