Breaking point

Hundreds of reception teachers have signed a petition opposing the formal approach of the literacy hour. Ruth Thomson hears their worries about its impact on young children Since its inception, the place of the literacy hour in early years education has been open to question. How could a literacy strategy based on formal, whole-class teaching methods co-exist with a Foundation Stage based on child-centred, play-based principles? The simple answer is, it can't, say early years specialists, who are now campaigning for its removal from reception class teaching.