Nursery World - Editor's View: Both main political parties are making odd noises about early years

The Cambridge Primary Review has garnered compliments from the early years sector for its recommendation of extending the EYFS approach upwards and raising the school starting age to six (see News, page 3).

The Government, however, has dismissed the review and countered with a consultation on, effectively, lowering the age at which children enter reception (see News, page 5).

No surprises that its proposals go under the banner of 'parental choice', as with so many other moves that threaten to be counterproductive to children's needs. The consultation promises that schools will not be allowed to withhold a place if a parent decides that their child should start later, and that children will have free full-time places in nursery provision if an early start is not preferred. The response to both of these has to be 'Oh really?!' Parental panic about school places will dictate that children start as soon as allowed, and where on earth will the money come from to fund the alternative, given the current situation with free entitlement of 15 hours?

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