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Mark time

Help parents to understand that children need to experiment and play with making marks before they can be expected to perform 'proper' handwriting, with this advice from Penny Tassoni Learning to read and to write is a major step in a child's education. In the past this has led to considerable pressure being placed on practitioners to get children started earlier and earlier. Up until quite recently, it was not unusual to find three-and four-year-olds sitting around worksheets and tracing over letters. The consequences of this approach showed themselves most frequently in reception classes. Louise, a teacher from Bromley, explains, 'We used to find that many children refused to write unless an adult was with them, as they were not confident enough to have a go by themselves. Since the introduction of the Foundation Stage, this is happening less and less.'

Learning to read and to write is a major step in a child's education. In the past this has led to considerable pressure being placed on practitioners to get children started earlier and earlier. Up until quite recently, it was not unusual to find three-and four-year-olds sitting around worksheets and tracing over letters. The consequences of this approach showed themselves most frequently in reception classes. Louise, a teacher from Bromley, explains, 'We used to find that many children refused to write unless an adult was with them, as they were not confident enough to have a go by themselves. Since the introduction of the Foundation Stage, this is happening less and less.'

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