The proposals were published in a policy document, Wales: The Learning Country, last week. It was described by Jane Davidson, minister for education and lifelong learning, as 'the first comprehensive strategic statement on education and learning in Wales covering the whole age range from early years to adulthood'.
A Welsh Assembly spokeswoman said the proposal to introduce a less formal curriculum for three-to seven-year-olds and the abolition of SATs at seven was influenced by Ms Davidson's study of approaches in other European countries. She said Ms Davidson felt that children are being pushed into formal education too young and that early testing did not indicate a child's true development, while evidence suggested that teacher assessments and test results were often the same.
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