Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector commented that nurseries aren’t preparing children for school. Headmaster Iain Robertson at Buckholme Towers School and Nursery comments:
“As usual, the government is looking for someone to blame. And as usual, it is the schools. The pressure on nurseries and schools to perform is a huge burden on them, and one which in many cases causes them to lose sight of what is really important for our children.
“Young children learn and develop at different rates and well-qualified and experienced education practitioners will put learning opportunities in their ‘developmental path’, encouraging curiosity and interest.
“Pushing very young children to read and write when they are not ready for it, is not only a waste of time and energy, but can also be detrimental to their development. It can put them off learning, particularly if they are made to feel that they are not succeeding. The Early Years Curriculum is about much more than just reading and writing, it’s about developing the whole child, with the personal and social aspects right at the core.
At Buckholme Towers School and Nursery, where classes are small, we take a very nurturing approach to learning. Children’s successes are celebrated at every opportunity and weaknesses supported, so that at every step they are made to feel that their efforts are appreciated and worthwhile. This approach is what nurtures a desire for learning. It also requires proper resourcing; high ratios of fully qualified adults to pupils ensure that no child ‘slips through the net’.”