Congrats to the SNJ this week for running their front page with the campaign started in Stroud against the new compulsory pre-school curriculum - when I first signed there was barely a hundred names, the campaign has now attracted 5,362 supporters and climbing - see my blog from 21st December 2008 and campaign site here.Photo: Den making
Best-selling children's author Philip Pullman has joined the growing lobby of prominent children's writers, educators and academics who have put their name to the online Downing Street petition. Author Dorothy Rowe was also one of the first signatures and Steve Biddulph and Melinda Messenger.
Under the Early Years Foundation Stage policy framework, which will apply to around 25,000 nurseries and registered childminders from September, children could be expected to meet up to 500 targets between birth and primary school including continual assessments on writing, problem solving and numeracy. This is complete and utter madness.
The Open Early Years Education campaign (Open EYE) who set up the petition rightly say that this so-called 'nappy curriculum' could harm children's development and place unnecessary bureaucratic burdens on those who care for under fives.
Stroud therapist and former teacher Gabriel Millar is quoted saying: "It's a flagrant violation of the rights of parents to choose how their children are educated. Writing too early, before they have motor skills, stresses children and leads to a sense of failure. It has been seen to turn them off learning. We just want the framework to stay as a guideline as it has been since 2002."
It is good to see that Annette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, is to table an early day motion reiterating the views of Open EYE. Please consider signing the petition:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OpenEYE/
1 comment:
Just to let you know that I heard this evening the Learning Curve - it did an excellent, albeit short feature, on the Open EYE campaign this evening.
Graham Kennish who many will know locally is on the Open EYE steering group - he explained very clearly the flawed nature of the EYFS, likening it to a bright red, rosy apple with a worm in it. He also hi-lighted the harmful and compulsory nature of the curriculum and the seriously flawed consultation process that led to it. For those who missed it do take the opportunity to listen again at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/learningcurve.shtml - fast forward to the last 4 minutes of the program.
Post a Comment