Early years study questions 'school ready' definition

Pacey surveyed parents and teachers, in conjunction with Netmums and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), as part of an investigation into how to define the term "school ready".

The Being School Ready report, launched at Pacey Live on Saturday, found that 75 per cent of parents and 65 per cent of teachers agreed that independence with their own personal care, strong social skills and confidence in being away from their parents or carers for a number of hours are the most important elements to a definition of being "school ready".

Only 26 per cent of parents and four per cent of teachers rated reading, writing and arithmetic skills as an essential part of being "school ready".

The research also found that while parents feel they are most responsible in preparing their children for school, 68 per cent said time-consuming activities such as work prevented them from doing so. As a result, 65 per cent felt that enrolling their children in formal childcare is key to preparing them for school.

Their views are reinforced by 89 per cent of childcare professionals, also surveyed as part of the study, who believe the Early Years Foundation Stage stands children in good stead for school.

Pacey also found that teachers and childcare professionals are becoming concerned that the importance of play to children’s development is being lost.

Commenting on the findings of the report, Pacey chief executive Liz Bayram said: “It is clear that childcare professionals, parents and teachers have a shared understanding that supporting young children to develop socially and emotionally is critical not just to them being school ready.

“While no one would deny that supporting all children to achieve their full potential is critical, Pacey is concerned that educational attainment is becoming the dominant force in early years.

“Our research shows that teachers and childcare professionals are concerned that the importance of play and how it supports children to be confident, communicative, sociable and curious is being lost.