Industry News
Children 'should start school at 7'
Posted on 12th December 2007
Children should not start school until they reach seven years of age in order to help them avoid anxiety and study effectively, an expert has argued.
Lisa Harker, co-director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, made her comments in the Guardian newspaper, adding that education needs to undergo major changes to bring it in line with children's development.
"There is a growing consensus among teachers and psychologists that children are being pushed into formal education too early," she argued.
Ms Harker highlighted that a number of European schools delay the age at which children start school and that international studies suggest the later date helps reading levels.
She offered her opinion in response to the government's newly released Children's Plan, which seeks to overhaul the primary school curriculum.
Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, announced that the plans would help build "world-class schools" through measures such as improving parental involvement and strengthening support for children.
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