Nursery World - Ready for school?

Official guidance is targeting the wrong goal for early years, says Ann-Marie McAuliffe on behalf of the Early Childhood Forum The Change for Children agenda, stemming from Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003), has largely been welcomed by the early years sector. However, despite a general consensus on the need for a new framework for professionals to ensure the wellbeing of children, questions have been raised over exactly how this should be implemented. One such query comes from the Early Childhood Forum (ECF) which, while agreeing with the agenda's principles, has expressed unease over the aim that children should be what is termed 'ready for school'.

The Change for Children agenda, stemming from Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003), has largely been welcomed by the early years sector. However, despite a general consensus on the need for a new framework for professionals to ensure the wellbeing of children, questions have been raised over exactly how this should be implemented. One such query comes from the Early Childhood Forum (ECF) which, while agreeing with the agenda's principles, has expressed unease over the aim that children should be what is termed 'ready for school'.

ECF, a coalition of 46 national professional associations, voluntary organisations and interest groups, acts as a critical voice on behalf of the sector, putting the needs and interests of all young children and their families first. Its view is that the concept of 'ready for school' is a poor reflection of the thinking behind Every Child Matters, which is, in other ways, extremely beneficial for children.

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