Nursery World - Editor's view (74)

The many voices in the early years sector raised against enforcing formal phonics instruction for children younger than five appear to have been ignored. Jim Rose's review, which contains much good sense about the importance of rich literacy opportunities for young children and the professional autonomy of teachers, nevertheless advocates class group teaching of synthetic phonics by five. The national curriculum will be altered by the Government accordingly. There is much unhappiness at the implications of this and how it could jeopardise good early years practice by increasing the downward pressure for inappropriate approaches to the Foundation Stage curriculum. Many experts and advisors are worried about speaking out. It is vital that the issues are debated now, however, with the new Early Years Foundation Stage going into consultation after Easter, and training materials for implementing synthetic phonics to be published in time for the September start.

There is much unhappiness at the implications of this and how it could jeopardise good early years practice by increasing the downward pressure for inappropriate approaches to the Foundation Stage curriculum. Many experts and advisors are worried about speaking out. It is vital that the issues are debated now, however, with the new Early Years Foundation Stage going into consultation after Easter, and training materials for implementing synthetic phonics to be published in time for the September start.

No-one wants to diminish the role of phonics in literacy teaching, but there is no evidence that an earlier start is of benefit, and much to lose if four-year-olds end up sitting as a class for lengthy flashcard sessions.

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