Nursery World - Letters: Transition Dilemma

This letter is not about private prep schools in general, as we have great relationships with nearly all the schools that our children move to, both state and private. I am writing to share a dilemma that we are facing with one school.

This particular private prep school sends to parents of children joining its reception class a 24-page document, in which it states that before they start, four-year-olds joining the school are expected to be able to:

- write their name correctly using the right letter formations with a capital at the beginning

- hold their pencil correctly

- recognise the 26 letter sounds of the alphabet

- recognise numbers 1-10 (and above)

- write the numbers 1-10 correctly

- count out different groups of objects to 10

- recognise a list of 12 shapes (for example, hexagon and crescent!)

- recognise a list of 13 colours.

It also gives parents worksheets to 'help children' do these things correctly.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included