News

Steiner setting closes rather than implement EYFS

A private school that operates on Steiner principles has said it will close its nursery at the end of term because its teachings are incompatible with the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Graeme Whiting, head of Acorn School in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, told the Times Educational Supplement, 'I'm not prepared to struggle on month after month hoping a petty bureaucrat will say that this school can continue as it is. I'm not going to kowtow and have children on computers. I'm passionate about education and I believe if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

The school, which has 11 children in its kindergarten, started applying for exemption from the EYFS but found the process too complicated. The DCSF has confirmed that only three childcare providers have applied for exemption to date, including a childminder whose application was refused (see news, page 4).

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