Nursery World - Emphasis on creativity lacking

The creative development of children in Wales is often limited in reception classes because they lack sufficient chances to experiment with materials, make choices and express their ideas in art and music, according to the annual report of Estyn, the Welsh schools inspectorate. Standards for the under-fives were found to be improving steadily in schools that were maintained by local education authorities, and were good in just over half of Welsh primary schools. The quality of the early years curriculum was good in about 70 per cent of the nursery and reception classes in primary schools that were maintained by local education authorities.

Standards for the under-fives were found to be improving steadily in schools that were maintained by local education authorities, and were good in just over half of Welsh primary schools. The quality of the early years curriculum was good in about 70 per cent of the nursery and reception classes in primary schools that were maintained by local education authorities.

However, creative development was found to be a weakness, compared with other aspects of early education in LEA nursery classes, alongside mathematical development.

The report, from the chief inspector of education and training in Wales, also found the most common weaknesses in reception classes related to the condition of school buildings and resources, which often limited the standards that children could achieve in their physical development. However, children in reception classes performed well in mathematical, personal and social development, language, literacy and communication skills.

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