Industry News
Curriculum for pre-schoolers criticised
Posted on 30th November 2007
A national curriculum for toddlers could be a major threat to the well-being of under-5s, a lobby group has claimed.
The Times reports that it has seen a letter from a group which includes child psychologists and academics which is extremely critical of government plans to make children under five write sentences and solve problems using maths.
It accuses the government of introducing the measures by stealth.
According to the Times, although the national curriculum does not apply to independent schools, the plans for under-5s will become compulsory for all pre-school groups, whether state, voluntary or private.
This is the second time this month that the government's curriculum plans have faced criticism from academics.
Recently, Michael Spinney, chairman of the Independent Association of Prep Schools accused the government of undermining children's studies with its "social agenda".
He called upon private schools to use their independence to counter this, urging: "Now is the time for the construction of a curriculum for the independent sector, with a return to knowledge at its core."
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