Nursery World - Later school entry age is backed by leading academic

The recommendation in the Cambridge Review that children should not start school until age six has been endorsed by another leading academic.

Professor Greg Brooks, an emeritus professor of education at the University of Sheffield, spoke at a Literacy Interventions meeting held by the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. Professor Brooks said, 'I think we induct children into formal school too young in this country. I think there is a case for having a much more play-based pre-school phase that would last from age three to age six, in which there would be very little or no formal teaching of literacy. That would start at age six.'

Days after the final report of the Cambridge Review was published, the Government announced that all children could start school from the age of four (News, 22 October).

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