Early Years Education

The Desirable Outcomes for Children's Learning on entering compulsory education published in TES. Radical changes have been proposed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority(QCA) in a consultation paper that covers early years education from age 3 through to key stage 1. The document proposes a foundation stage emphasising social, personal and emotional development together with the acceptance that younger children develop at their own pace.

The QCA Proposes

• a foundation stage to cover children from age three to the end of reception year.
• a clear set of early learning goals ( instead of the current, age-related, Desirable Learning Outcomes) which set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the foundation stage.The literacy and numeracy goals are in line with national objectives for reception year;
• an emphasis on social skills and the emotional well-being of young children.
   

Early-learning goals
Skills children should have by the end of the reception year

Social skills
Pre-school children should:

• have the confidence to try things, initiate ideas and speak in a group;
• be able to concentrate and sit still
• be aware of their own needs and sensitive to those others;
• be respectful of others cultures and beliefs;
• consider the consequences of their actions.
• understand what is right and wrong and why.
• dress independently and manage their own personal hygiene
   

Speaking and listening

• use imaginative language;
• speak clearly and audibly;
• be attentive listeners.
   

Reading

• know the alphabet;
• link letters and sounds;
• read a range of common words.
   

Writing

• hold a pencil correctly;
• write their own names;
• use phonic knowledge.
   

Maths

• count reliably to ten;
• recognise numbers;
• begin to relate to addition and subtraction;
• recognise patterns.

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