Letters: Transition Dilemma
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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.
As a result, some parents then come to us wanting us to ensure that their children have achieved these 'skills' and so are 'ready' for this particular school.
Given that these children are only four years old and have 12 months remaining within the Early Years Foundation Stage, I am astounded and saddened to read this document that is putting parents and young children under such pressure. I also believe it to be totally at odds with the EYFS.
We are currently trying to meet with the school to discuss our views, but would welcome other readers' thoughts, experiences and advice in the meantime.
Jennie Johnson, chief executive, KidsAllowed, Manchester.
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP letter.nw@haymarket.com 020 8267 8401.
