Campaigners against formal learning in Reception call for controversial report to be withdrawn

The letter, which was published in The Guardian on Tuesday (16 January), says that the report into Reception class teaching is ‘biased’ and ‘flawed’, and risks being used as a basis for educational policy, and calls for it to be withdrawn.

Signatories include IVF pioneer and scientist Professor Robert Winston and children’s author Michael Rosen.

The open letter, co-ordinated by the campaign group Keeping Early Years Unique, has also been signed by the chief executives of early years organisations including the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the National Day Nurseries Association, the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, and Early Education.

The letter says ‘We are deeply concerned about Ofsted’s Bold Beginnings report. The report infers that reception classes should be taught like year 1. This would mean narrowing the curriculum to focus more heavily on literacy and mathematics, overly formal teaching and less opportunity for play. It assets that “successful” schools already teach in this way. However, the report is based on visits to less than 0.25 per cent of schools. It appears that Ofsted only visited schools where teaching was congruent with the recommendations the report would later make.’