Nursery World - Old enough to learn

We need to look at the problem of summer-born children moving up to school from a different angle, argues Michael Pettavel

School starting age, legislated for in the 19th century, was never about achievement but came from a desire to protect children. Nowadays you can’t move for courses and debates on ‘school readiness’ and Bold Beginnings.

At this time of year, most of us who work in nurseries look at our three-year-olds heading off to primary school in just three months’ time with some concern. Will they be given the attention they need, the ratios, and the care?

Bundled into school uniforms and electrified by a mixture of pride at going to ‘big school’ and anxiety at leaving their longstanding relationships… I ask myself, is this in their best interests?

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