Education system neglects early years values, say experts

More than 170 childminders, nursery and primary school teachers, head teachers, school governors, lecturers and academics responded to the poll, which suggested a disparity exists between the values teachers feel are important and what is implemented on the ground.

Conducted by the Save Childhood Movement, which campaigns on issues related to societal values and wellbeing, the results showed 67 per cent of respondents thought education should be child-centred as a matter of priority.

It also revealed that 60 per cent of respondents thought creativity should be prioritised within teaching, and 50 per cent believed that early education should emphasise the importance of play.

Wendy Ellyatt, founding director and chief executive of the Save Childhood Movement, described the findings as “unacceptable”.
 
“It is simply unacceptable that there should be such a disparity between the values that teachers themselves hold and the systems that we are then asking them to work within,” she said.

“How we can expect them to be the creative, spontaneous, passionate and empowered adults that we really need around children when they are constantly ground down by the demands of the system? We need something better."