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'Treat older pupils as in early years'

The integrated approach to monitoring child development practised in early years settings should be extended into primary and secondary schools to help them identify and cope with disruptive pupils, say early years practitioners. Diane Rich, national professional officer at Early Education, said, 'So much work is done in a good early years setting to know a child before they start school, to help them cognitively, emotionally and behaviourally, that could be mirrored in primary and secondary education.'

Diane Rich, national professional officer at Early Education, said, 'So much work is done in a good early years setting to know a child before they start school, to help them cognitively, emotionally and behaviourally, that could be mirrored in primary and secondary education.'

She was reacting to a call from delegates at last week's conference of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Bournemouth, who demanded that headteachers should be given the power to screen children before they start school where there are concerns over 'behavioural difficulties'.

The NUT denied that its proposal would penalise pupils with special needs, but said it was aimed at securing extra support services to help beat disruption in the classroom.

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