Greater emphasis on teacher assessment of pupils rather than formal examinations should mean less pressure on nursery and reception classes to 'prepare' children for SATS (see News, page 4).
However, the changes do not go far enough, as the national testing and the performance league tables for Key Stage 2 results will remain. While schools are forced to jostle for position in league tables, and made to feel failures for any fall in position, regardless of their intake and the limited nature of what is being measured, parents will feel they have to make their choice of school mainly based on those tables. And that means that the downward pressure for formal learning to be introduced at the Foundation Stage and even earlier will, to some extent, remain.
There's not much longer to respond to Ofsted's consultation on the revision of early years inspection. So read our Special Report, 'Under scrutiny', on pages 10-11 to find out how the new proposals are being received across the sector, and make sure you have your say, too.
