(pages 10-11) this week shows.
The SATs not only cause stress and misery for teachers and pupils in Year 2, having a detrimental effect on the delivery of the curriculum, they are also preventing the Foundation Stage being implemented properly. The downward pressure on nursery and reception class teachers to start drilling young children in formal literacy and numeracy skills as a precursor to the SATs is intense and almost impossible to resist for many, particularly those teachers who are inexperienced in early years practice.
Parents, too, can become anxious that their four-year-olds should be preparing for SATs and can add to the pressure to start formal learning inappropriately early in nurseries and schools.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
