Saturday 16 November 2013

Education at 3? No thanks.

Sally Morgan, Chair of OFSTED wrote a guest blog post for Mumsnet defending her belief that children should
begin their education as toddlers to be "school ready" at 5. Whilst claiming, in her own words
“The importance of the quality of the provision small children have in early years settings is well documented, but as I found last week in the reactions to a speech I made, the whole topic is quite contentious! "Early years" provision includes nurseries, childminders, nannies, play groups and, of course, these are often part-time and mixed with time at home with parents or grandparents."
She then goes on to see that she would like to see more of
"the 3-18 model is working successfully in many academies up and down the UK."
I strongly disagree with this. Shipping children off outside the home too early can be highly detrimental emotionally, especially to boys. There can never be a "one size fits all" approach to pre school provision and all children are different - and they are all also very, very young. Parents know their children best and choice is always a good thing. Preschools, childminders, family members and - shock horror- PARENTS THEMSELVES are in fact very well placed to deliver an excellent pre school experience in a loving environment. Sadly with the increase in nursery classes at school (which OFSTED actively encourage) taking children as young as 3 the numbers of state funded children attending pre schools (and other settings) is falling - and those wonderful places are closing in alarming numbers.

Nursery classes attached to schools get children on the "achievement conveyor belt" far too early, and however much their "education" is play and discovery based there is no getting away from the fact that they are in a class in a school. The environment is totally different, teachers constrained far more by school policies and targets, timetables and calendars. It is too much too soon. Ms Morgan quite rightly points out that the focus needs to be on providing opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who all too often start school barely knowing their colours or able to count to ten. But depressing statistics like that are not going to be turned around by opening schools to ever younger children.
‘Nurseries attached to schools are uniquely placed to help young children master the skills and learning habits that will lead to success in primary school and beyond.’
No. School nurseries are part of a bigger machine which all too often forgets how small their children are, their need for spontaneity and care. No 3 year old should feel they have their day prescribed for them in that way. Learning habits will be acquired incidentally, with no "teaching" required if a young child is loved, stimulated and valued. Children are like sponges - very often they learn in spite of  adult attempts to teach. As a parent of four very different children I tried to "teach" my eldest. The other three I gave opportunities to in abundance and focussed on their lead rather than my instruction. I know which worked best for us. Two of them attended a nursery type "pre school" two mornings a week, and two were ready for a bit more - but it was always separate from a bigger school environment - even if on the premises and only every a couple of sessions a week.

A major problem with school nursery classes is that there is an expectation of attendance. Families are caught up in the idea that somehow their child will "miss out" if they don't get in early - I have even heard some schools saying they cannot guarantee a child a place in Reception if they have not attended the school nursery. This deprives parents of choice and will only end in all 3 year olds attending school to secure places for the future.

There will always be those who would benefit from early intervention, and those who actually are ready for something aged 3+ also.  But it's the inevitable progression I object to. Once you have State Nursery classes it creates an expectation, a curriculum and target setting. Let's go back to good preschools which are totally child centred and not part of a bigger agenda. Choice, yes - but not prescriptive inevitability. It's all very well comparing our school results with those from countries like China and Japan but the stress placed on those children is not something I would like to see replicated here. Results are not everything, healthy and happy individuals are usually successful and achieve well.



22 comments:

  1. I totally agree with this!! My twins are due to start full-time nursery (within a primary school) next Sept when they're 3yrs old. It's the done thing here because we live in a deprived area (and can't blooming get out). Apparently starting school at a younger age improves their chances of competing against the rest of the country for places at uni and jobs when they're older. If we don't enrol them, they may lose out on being accepted into the reception class. Plus, everyone here sends their kids at 3yrs old and if we didn't follow the sheep we could end up singling the boys out and making them different. I don't feel comfortable with sending them to full-time school at such a young age though, especially with them being boys. I think very young children, especially boys, need their mothers love, influence and guidance. They've got the rest of their childhood to be taught and guided by others...why such a hurry to send them out into the world? That's one of reasons I always said I'd be a stay-at-home mum and didn't want them raised by a childminder or daycare. Part-time, yes....I think we can all benefit from the break but having them away from me for 6hrs a day seems too much, too young. This is VERY controversial atm as the neighbouring council (we are right on the border) is cutting nursery places from full-time to part-time and everyone is up in arms and protesting over it. I'm a bit on the fence where the cutbacks are concerned, as I KNOW this is a deprived area with generations of disadvantaged families so some of our kids need all the help they can get BUT I don't know if putting them into the system (full-time), away from their parents, at such a young age is the answer :/

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  2. yup, quite agree. I am lucky enough to be a SAHM, so I can keep my youngest out of it until he starts school (although we have have a couple of sessions a week at pre-school) Sadly his birthday is mid-August, which means at barely 4 he will be in full time school, something I would rather he had at least another year before doing.

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  3. I think it is sad, too much pressure, when they should still be with family (if possible), learning in a fun, relaxed way as a consequence rather than as an objective x

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  4. Totally agree with you, my son who is now 13 was not ready for any type of education at 3 and hated every moment of it. I unfortunately was new to the area and decided to listen to the powers above so not to upset the apple cart. It is one of my huge regrets that I didn't listen to my heart and keep him at home with me making sure we went to lots of playgroups together.

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  5. I completely agree. I was surprised how much my son was educated at his independent nursery at such a young age, although it was obviously made fun. When he started proper school at just over 4 he really struggled with the emotional side of things and was exhausted and irritable. Children seem to be encouraged to grow up faster and faster these days - what is wrong with just letting them have fun? There is plenty of time for learning!

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  6. 6yo went to nursery since she was 8 months old, but that's because we didn't have a choice as a family, and I needed to work to help pay the bills. I don't think being in an educational environment harmed her in any way, but agree it's not for everyone

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  7. I really noticed the difference with my kids regarding their readiness to start school. My daughter is one of the oldest in her year so was definitely ready to start, wanting to learn from the off. My son is one of the youngest and just wasn't (still isn't, 4 years later) ready to sit still and learn in a classroom environment. I don't think this is specific to him, I'm pretty sure many of the kids in his class would prefer to be outside running after a football or climbing a tree!

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  8. I definitely think it is down to individual kids - as a teacher I saw many not ready for school so young but some that absolutely were. I went to nursery school aged 3 and loved it. It was where I realised I wanred to be a teacher!! My eldest turns three in June and will be going to the very same nursery in September. There is no doubt in my mind he is more than ready. In fact every day he asks to go to school,likes playing school. He's Mr independent. My youngest is two in October so we have a while yet but he is much different to his brother, so I'm not sure whether he will be ready for school at the same age.

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  9. I couldn't agree more with this. 3 year olds are still very young, and should be learning through play, interactions and experiences, while feeling safe and loved. My daughter attends pre school for 2 days a week, and started when she was 3 and 3 months. She was ready, she loved it from her settling in session, and continues to enjoy it - she's nearly 4 & a half. It suits her. My son's just 18 months, though I'm not certain he'll start that young - I'll see how his personality develops and take it from there. I don't like the 'school' pressure element, and so young, too.

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  10. I agree, 3 year olds are too young for formal education, they learn more from playing and living experiences. My 4 yr old girls attend a preschool 2 days a week which they love, but I like the fact that they are home with me most of he time (until they start big school in sept).
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

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  11. Each child is different. I am dreading the twins going. But thats because I don't want to let go! I really can't see either of them wanting to go. They are shy and do not like people that they don't know which is only natural, the majority of the time it is just the three of us until Joseph and the hubby get home. I am seriously considering home "schooling" if you can call it that at 3 until they go full time just not sure what the hubby will think but he has said himself that they will hate leaving us. Its a lot to think about and any advice would be welcome xx

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    1. It's definitely a very individual thing. I want to see choice and opportunities rather than a general depositing of children on the educational conveyor belt regardless. When my twins were that age, we did three mornings at a pre school setting, where they went once together and once each alone so they effectively did two short mornings each. I must say spending time one-to-one with them was lovely :)

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  12. I think the key point is choice and as you rightly say, every child is different. My oldest was in full time nursery from six months, because I worked full time. My middle child also went to nursery at six months, and when we moved to the US we chose to put him into preschool as he was used to that environment. His school here is more structured, and for him has been ideal - he has thrived. But, that's down to the child that he is, it was right for him, and he is now very excited about starting school in August (he turns five in April). I'm not sure what I'll do with the wee girl, but I'm fairly sure that I'll send her into preschool when she turns three... I strongly agree that we all need to be able to make that choice, we know what is best for our children and until they must start formal education, we need to use our best judgement as to what is right for them. #LetKidsBeKids

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  13. There is plenty of choice where we live but my 3 year old is incredibly happy to attend nursery attached to our local Primary. Over the last 6 months I've watched him grow in confidence and he's a very happy and intelligent little boy. I like the emphasis on learning through play and think it's a great introduction to attending Reception in September. Choice is key though and I'm very glad there are lots of options where we live.

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  14. I was talking to a woman in the bank and she said she didn't want her child to go to school until they were five but the school said they couldn't hold a place open for her unless she went to reception class. I really did think it was completely appalling that the school seemed to be almost blackmailing her to send her daughter to school before she wanted to.

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  15. The important thing is definitely to do what makes you feel comfortable as a family and what suits your children's characters. My daughters both adored it at their preschool, and they have gone on to flourish at school. We all liked the structure of nursery, and they loved the playing, crafts and story time. It only lasted 3 hours a day, and the only class activity was sitting on the mat listening to songs. My little boy will be going in autumn too. I hope he likes it as much as his sisters.

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  16. I couldn't agree more, especially that last line. Some countries may have amazing results, but very unhappy individuals. Then again some countries who start school much later than us, with a lot less homework and more free play end up happier AND with better results. I wonder if it has also occured to these government bods that culture is something in itself, some cultures ARE more academically focused and do better with more rules, and targets and tests. Others not so much. We need to start doing what is best for our children and stop trying to replicate other countries

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  17. 3 is far too young. The education system changed from my eldest starting preschool to my other tow starting. My eldest had started reading books and doing homework whereas my daughter who is 5 years younger didn't do any of that. Let kids be kids.

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  18. I agree. I do not like all the comparisons being made, with other countries, etc. I like treating my children as individuals with individual needs. I just want them to be happy.

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  19. A wonderful post. I totally agree that at such a young age the focus has to be on play and exploring the world around them. Each child is different and I know only one of mine would have thrived on such a structured setting at such a young age.

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  20. madness, a friend of mines local area they start school daily from 3 so she has refused! It's way to young IMO

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  21. Isaac attended the school nursery and mixed with the reception children and thrived. As such Eliza will follow suit in September as she is already desperate to go. Our school nursery is brilliant and prepares them well for the school environment whilst concentrating on learning through play. They have an Orchard, a garden and lots of indoor and outdoor play equipment which they use daily. They have bred butterflies and tadpoles and have far more resources than the local playgroup. My kids have older (much older) siblings and have both been more than ready for it!

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Many thanks for taking the time to comment, I really value your responses.

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