Nursery World - Scrap the EYFS literacy goals, say MPs in curriculum report

The early learning goals for reading and writing in the Early Years Foundation Stage should be scrapped, a group of MPs has said in a report on the national curriculum.

Sir Jim Rose is currently reviewing two of the literacy goals centred on children's ability to write and use punctuation in simple sentences by the age of five - 'Use their phonic knowledge' and 'write their own names' (see box).

However, Nursery World has learned that it is likely he will recommend that these two goals should stay in the EYFS.

The report also disagrees with Sir Jim's recommendation for it to become 'the norm' for children to start reception class the September after their fourth birthday.

The Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, which took evidence from early years experts, teaching unions and others, said last week that the goals for 'communication, language and literacy' have faced the strongest criticism.

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