Nursery World - School transition under scrutiny

Ofsted, the body responsible for both school and childcare inspections, is to carry out a study into whether there is a clash between the play-based Foundation Stage and the more formal approach of the National Curriculum. The study will examine whether the transition from the pre-school Foundation Stage to the National Curriculum, introduced in year one, is too abrupt, causing problems for children's progress.

The study will examine whether the transition from the pre-school Foundation Stage to the National Curriculum, introduced in year one, is too abrupt, causing problems for children's progress.

Researchers in 28 schools will look at how the transition affects children's learning and the quality of teaching in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. They will also assess the impact of the Foundation Stage Profile, added in January this year, which assesses children on a broad range of measures at the end of the Foundation Stage.

The research results are due to be published in the second half of 2004.

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