Guest Posted December 16, 2010 Posted December 16, 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12009209 Does anyone else feel that every time that some progress might be being made with resepct to EY, some Department of Education spokesman comes along and misses the point completely? I don't envy Claire Tickel doing a review of EYFS, is anyone going to listen to her findings when ministers have such an ignorant view of child development and early education?
JacquieL Posted December 16, 2010 Posted December 16, 2010 I'd feel a bit more confident in this story if whoever wrote it was literate.. s/he uses compared to instead of with!!
HappyMaz Posted December 16, 2010 Posted December 16, 2010 How sad. Reading articles like that make me want to run away and hide.
Beauvink Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 I dont think they know anything bout child development. Most practitioners will tell you the goals they are measuring are far too high at such an early age. But sadly due to govermneny pressure a lot of practitioners try to concentrate on these in the Early Years and not the fine/gross motor skills to help with dressing and undressing and pre-writing skills.
sunnyday Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 How sad. Reading articles like that make me want to run away and hide. Wait for me - I'd like to join you!
bubblejack Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) Have the government ever thought that maybe boys brains are just not programmed to write as well as girls at such a young age and instead of putting pressure on boys they should be adjusting the curriculum to suit all children. Edited December 17, 2010 by bubblejack
Rea Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 Have the government ever thought that maybe boys brains are just not programmed to write as well as girls at such a young age and instead of putting pressure on boys they should be adjusting the curriculum to suit all children. Exactly what I was thinking. My eldest couldnt write his name at 5 but still got loads of GCSEs and A levels. If I was a parent of a young child now and was being told 'could do better', I'd be inclinded to say 'so what!' So much pressure is unnatural.
Inge Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 so glad I am not a parent of a five year old being led to believe they are underachieving because they cannot write their name. and how many of them believe all this and adds pressure to the children at home.. How other countries cope where children do not start until 6 or 7 is obviously missed. and yes I too had a 5 year old who could not write his name, and at 7 still had issues reading... only to go on to do very well later on in his schooling... ( 4 good science A levels, a degree and a good job!)
Rea Posted December 17, 2010 Posted December 17, 2010 I was speaking to a mom yesterday at playgroup who is worried that if she doesnt send her daughter to a nursery attatched to achool she'll miss out. 'They teach them to line up and write their name and I dont want her to be behind'. Good grief!
Guest Posted December 18, 2010 Posted December 18, 2010 Certainly the whole obsession with boys writing this early is silly. But ... it should worry us that children from deprived backgrounds lag behind. Not that it is our fault, but it is wrong that children's educational achievement is still linked so closely to their background, despite all the efforts made in recent years. I'm not sure what the answer is (how do you 'get' to the parents and help them learn how to support their children?) but as an educator it does worry me. Perhaps the extended EY entitlement will do something to close this gap?
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