Most schools have large class sizes with a qualified teacher and maybe one or two teaching assistants, but it is not the same as the nursery ratios.
In nursery the children have freedom of choice and it is up to the nursery staff to include the six areas of learning in this, but reception classes have to abide by Government targets. This is too much for four-year-olds.
The new early years framework will be from birth to five. School intake should also be five.
Early years settings must provide a good-quality play-based curriculum, thanks to Ofsted. Children should be given the opportunity of enjoying this for the most important five years of their lives.
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