Formal lessons to start at 6 - progress or counter

0370 270 6000

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Browne Jacobson home

Home

Insights

Blogs

Formal lessons to start at 6 - progress or counter-productive?

16 October 2009

A review of primary education announced today that there is no evidence that children who start formal education before the age of 5 gain any advantage over their peers. The study suggested it can actually do some harm.

The Cambridge Primary Review proposes extending the Early Years Foundation Stage past the age of 5 bringing English children in line with many European countries, where standards are often higher. The review stops short of stating compulsory schooling should start at 6, but does open up the debate on the subject.

Vernon Coaker said the government is already reforming primary education and so feels that delaying the starting age would be counter-productive.

Related opinions

Head of Education, Mark Blois celebrates 25 years of being an education lawyer

Mark Blois, Browne Jacobson’s national Head of Education, is marking a notable anniversary, an incredible 25 years as an education lawyer.

View blog

Be wary of events post-dating the presentation of an Employment Tribunal claim

In Sakyi-Opare v Albert Kennedy Trust, the EAT held that an Employment Tribunal erred in deciding a claim was out of time because it did not first consider the claimant’s application to amend her claim, which included events that post-dated her claim.

View blog

A level results: what this means for schools and higher education?

This year’s A Level results have been a resounding success and demonstrate the commitment and resilience of students, schools and school staff during these unprecedented times. However, there will inevitably be some students who are disappointed with the teacher assessed grade.

View blog

Does the move into Step 4 mean the ending of Covid-19 restrictions within schools?

With the Prime Ministers announcement that he intends for Step 4 to begin on 19 July, this will also bring an end to the restrictions currently in place on education settings.

View blog

View all blogs